Samsung Galaxy S26 Review: Exynos Redeemed, Cameras Standing Still
By Alex Turner • 3 October 2026 • 9 min read
The Verdict
Exynos is no longer a compromise, the battery life is excellent, and the hardware is beautifully engineered. But the camera system has stood still for four generations while the price has not, and 25W charging is behind the market. An excellent phone that is difficult to recommend over a cheaper Pixel 10 unless you specifically want what Samsung does well.
The Exynos argument is finally over
For several generations, buying a Samsung flagship in the UK meant accepting Exynos while other regions got Snapdragon, and accepting that this meant less performance and worse efficiency. The Exynos 2600 ends that argument. UK buyers are no longer getting the lesser phone.
What that performance is wrapped in is remarkable. At 7.2mm and 167g the S26 is the lightest and thinnest of these three by a clear margin — 37g lighter than the Pixel 10 — while still carrying a 4,300mAh battery and an IP68 rating.
The camera problem
This is where the S26 is hardest to defend. The camera hardware is essentially unchanged for a fourth consecutive generation — the same 50MP main, 10MP 3x telephoto and 12MP ultrawide arrangement Samsung has shipped since the S23.
The results are good. Samsung’s processing has improved even where the sensors have not, and the 50MP main is dependable. But the 3x telephoto is outclassed by the Pixel 10’s 5x, and the Pixel costs £80 less. If cameras are your priority, this is not the phone at this price.
Battery and display
Expert Reviews recorded 32 hours 50 minutes in their battery test, which for a 4,300mAh cell in a 7.2mm body is genuinely impressive and speaks to Exynos 2600 efficiency. That is their measurement, not ours — we have not tested this device.
The display is the best of the three on paper. 2,600 nits peak with LTPO means it stays readable in direct sun and drops its refresh rate when nothing is moving. Charging remains 25W, which for an £879 phone is difficult to justify when far cheaper competitors charge considerably faster.
PROS
- Exynos 2600 finally matches the competition
- Lightest and thinnest at 167g and 7.2mm
- Excellent battery life for its size
- 2,600 nit display is the brightest here
- Seven years of OS updates
CONS
- Camera hardware unchanged for four generations
- 3x telephoto outclassed by the cheaper Pixel 10
- 25W charging is behind the market
- £879 with no budget storage option
Detailed Specifications
| Display | 6.3in AMOLED, 2340 x 1080, 120Hz LTPO |
| Brightness | 2,600 nits peak |
| Processor | Exynos 2600 (UK); Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in some markets |
| Memory | 12GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB (non-expandable) |
| Cameras | Rear: 50MP f/1.8 (OIS) + 10MP f/2.4 3x telephoto + 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide | Front: 12MP f/2.2 |
| Battery | 4,300mAh, 25W wired, 15W Qi2 wireless |
| Operating System | Android 16 with One UI 8.5, 7 years of OS updates |
| Dimensions | 150 x 72 x 7.2mm, 167g |
| Durability | IP68 |
| Price (RRP) | £879 (256GB), £1,049 (512GB) |
RRP shown is the manufacturer’s UK recommended price and was correct at the time of writing. Retail prices change frequently — always check the live price before buying. We may earn a commission from links on this page. We have not independently tested this device; any measured figures are attributed to the publication that recorded them.