Samsung Galaxy S26, S26+ are ever so practical and quietly intelligent with AI

Samsung has done it again. It has reserved the flashiest features for its Ultra flagship. The Privacy Display, faster 60W charging, and, of course, the stylus support. But does that automatically make the vanilla S26 and S26+ devices you can overlook? Not at all.

In fact, after spending some time with both phones, we can confidently say this. For the majority of users, these are the most practical S devices you can get this year.

You are not getting every single Ultra trick here. But you are getting the core flagship experience that actually matters. Here’s what stood out to us in our early time with the Galaxy S26 and S26+.

A refined design that's unmistakably Samsung

The first thing you notice is familiarity. The clean rear panel. The individually laid out camera rings. The flat frame. It is unmistakably a Galaxy S phone, and you can spot it from afar.

What has changed is that you get a new pill-shaped camera island and slightly more curvature around all four corners. The result is subtle, but noticeable. The phones feel a bit more handy and grippy now.

Samsung has bumped up the screen on the Samsung Galaxy S26 from 6.2 inches to 6.3 inches. You still get a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with up to 120Hz refresh rate and 2,600 nits peak brightness. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 makes a return, along with the same IP68 rating for durability.

The Samsung Galaxy S26+ remains unchanged in size, featuring a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. It gets a sharper QHD+ resolution compared to the standard S26’s FHD+ panel.

Most importantly, both models now feature 10-bit displays, which is a welcome upgrade from last year’s 8-bit panels. This will result in richer colours and smoother gradients.

In terms of weight, the S26+ stays at 190 grams, the same as its predecessor. The S26 is slightly heavier at 167 grams, largely due to the increased screen size. In hand, though, you won’t notice any bulk.

Consistent cameras with a splash of AI goodness

Samsung has not changed the camera hardware, and honestly, it does not really need to. The setup works well. You get a triple rear camera system with a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra wide, and a 10MP telephoto lens.

While we did not directly compare shots with the S25 series, the photos we captured looked pleasing to the eye. Colours are vibrant, Samsung seems to have improved night-time photography, with better detail retention and controlled highlights.

What really enhances the photography experience this year is Creative Studio and Photo Assist. These AI tools allow you to edit, upscale, and tweak images with simple prompts.

Cameras this year are less about hardware upgrades and more about AI enhancements, but thankfully, they are done right.

Exynos takes the charge

There is no Snapdragon variant for India this year. You get the Exynos 2600 for Galaxy, built on an efficient 2nm fabrication process.

In our initial usage, the phone felt snappy. App launches were quick, and animations were smooth. That said, it is still too early to make a final call on sustained performance.

What stood out, though, was thermals. Even with moderate camera usage and general browsing, the device did not feel warm. That is reassuring.

You get the same 12GB RAM as last year, but storage now starts at 256GB.

Improved battery life, AI overload

The smaller S26 sees a noticeable battery upgrade. It now houses a 4,300mAh cell, which is 300mAh more than S25’s 4,000mAh battery. On paper, that should translate to slightly better endurance.

Software-wise, Samsung has always been ahead of the curve, and the same is the case this year.

ALSO READ: Samsung Galaxy S26 series: Top 5 new features of the latest flagships

Both devices run Android 16-based One UI 8 out of the box, and yes, AI is everywhere. You get Creative Studio, improved Photo Assist, AI-powered Call Screening, a multi-agent AI assistant, and more.

Samsung Galaxy S26, S26+ early impresssions

Frankly, the Samsung Galaxy S26 and Samsung Galaxy S26+ feel more practical than ever. A cleaner design, richer 10-bit displays, Android 16, and a bigger battery on the smaller S26.

Add the new AI features to the mix, and you get a flagship experience that feels complete without going Ultra.

Yes, prices have gone up to Rs 87,999 for the S26 and Rs 1,19,999 for the S26+, but with 256GB now standard, making the bump feel justified.

But wait up, we are yet to fully test the real-world capabilities of these phones, including sustained performance, cameras, and battery life. All that in our full review, so stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma.