Samsung · Phones

Galaxy S26

Samsung's compact 2026 flagship: a 6.3-inch 120 Hz display, a 3x telephoto, IP68, 167 g, and seven OS upgrades and seven years of security updates.

Released · First official release in any country

Global release: Released internationally; available in confirmed markets.

Samsung confirms global availability beginning March 11, 2026. Availability and configurations vary by market. Samsung confirms worldwide Galaxy S26 series availability Checked .

Chipset
Varies by model
Display diagonal
6.3 in
Refresh rate
120 Hz
Battery capacity
4,300 mAh
Options
12 GB / 256 GB12 GB / 512 GB
Models
12 model numbers across 12 regions See all
Colors
Cobalt Violet, White, Black, Sky Blue, Pink Gold, Silver Shadow

Is the Galaxy S26 right for you?

The Galaxy S26 is the small phone in Samsung's 2026 flagship series, for people who want current Samsung flagship software, cameras, and support in a phone that is easy to use one-handed. It has a 6.3-inch FHD+ display at up to 120 Hz, weighs 167 g, and measures 149.6 x 71.7 x 7.2 mm, which makes it the lightest phone in this index and the shortest one that does not fold.

It shares the camera trio of the Galaxy S26+ (50 MP main, 12 MP ultra-wide, and a 3x telephoto), the same 12 GB of RAM, and the same seven-generation OS and seven-year security promise as the whole S26 series. What the smaller body costs is battery and charging: 4,300 mAh with 25W wired charging, against 4,900 mAh and 45W on the S26+. Samsung sells it with either a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 or an Exynos 2600 depending on the market; the US models use Snapdragon.

Against the Galaxy S26 Ultra it gives up the 200 MP main camera, the 5x telephoto, the privacy display, and 60W charging, and it launched at $899.99 in the US instead of $1,299.99. The Galaxy S26 FE is larger and cheaper at $699.99 with the same update promise, but it has 8 GB of RAM and an Exynos 2500.

A good fit if

  • You want a flagship Samsung phone that fits a small hand or pocket.
  • You want a 3x telephoto without moving up to a 6.7-inch or larger phone.
  • You plan to keep the phone for years: Samsung promises seven OS upgrades and seven years of security updates.

Look elsewhere if

  • You prioritize a larger battery capacity and faster wired charging over compact size: the Galaxy S26+ lists 4,900 mAh and 45W. Capacity alone does not establish runtime.
  • You want a longer zoom and a larger screen: the Galaxy S26 Ultra adds a 5x telephoto on a 6.9-inch display.
  • You want the lowest price with the same update promise: the Galaxy S26 FE launched at $699.99.

Which configuration to choose

Every model has 12 GB of RAM, so the choice is 256 GB or 512 GB, then your region's model. The US launch price was $899.99 for 256 GB. Buy SM-S942B/DS (dual SIM) or SM-S942B internationally, SM-S942U1 unlocked or SM-S942U from carriers in the United States, SM-S942W in Canada, SM-S9420 in Hong Kong and Taiwan, SM-S942N in South Korea, and the SIM-free or carrier models in Japan, where some carriers list few colors. Pink Gold and Silver Shadow are Samsung.com exclusives, and Samsung Canada does not list White.

Full specifications

Covers every recorded configuration. When a value varies by configuration, the model numbers it applies to are listed under it.

Design

Width
71.7 mm
Height
149.6 mm
Depth
7.2 mm
Weight
167 g

Display

Panel type
FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution width
Not confirmed
Resolution height
Not confirmed
Display diagonal
6.3 in
Refresh rate
120 Hz

Cameras

Main camera resolution
50 MP
Front camera resolution
12 MP
Camera configuration / limitations
Rear: 50 MP wide (f/1.8, 2x optical-quality zoom), 12 MP ultra-wide (f/2.2), and 10 MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom (f/2.4). Front: 12 MP (f/2.2). Video up to 8K at 30 fps.

Battery

Maximum wired charging
25 W
Charging conditions
Samsung quotes up to 55% in about 30 minutes with a 25W adapter and 3A USB-C cable, sold separately. Fast Wireless Charging (up to 15W in the US specification table) and Wireless PowerShare.
Battery capacity
4,300 mAh

Connectivity

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.4
NFC
Not confirmed
Connectivity
5G (Sub-6 on the US model), LTE, UWB (US specification table)

Software

Security support end date
Not confirmed
Operating system
Android 16 (One UI 8.5)
Update commitment
Seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates, counted from the global launch date (Samsung US launch release).

Performance

Chipset
  • Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy or Exynos 2600, depending on marketSM-S942B/DS, SM-S942B, SM-S942W, SM-S9420, SM-S942N, SM-S942Q, SM-S942D, SM-S942J, SM-S942Z, SM-S942C
  • Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for GalaxySM-S942U1, SM-S942U

Durability

Water resistance
IP68

Configuration

Memory
12 GB
Storage
256 GB to 512 GB

Configurations & colors

  • Cobalt Violet
  • White
  • Black
  • Sky Blue
  • Pink GoldSamsung.com exclusive
  • Silver ShadowSamsung.com exclusive

Match the regional model numbers to the confirmed markets below. These countries are verified by official sources; configurations and local stock can differ.

Region and modelConfigurationConfirmed marketsColors
International (dual SIM)SM-S942B/DS12 GB / 256 GB12 GB / 512 GBUnited Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Brazil, South AfricaCobalt Violet, White, Black, Sky Blue, Pink Gold, Silver Shadow
InternationalSM-S942B12 GB / 256 GB12 GB / 512 GBAustralia, MexicoCobalt Violet, White, Black, Sky Blue, Pink Gold, Silver Shadow
United States (unlocked)SM-S942U112 GB / 256 GB12 GB / 512 GBUnited StatesCobalt Violet, White, Black, Sky Blue, Pink Gold, Silver Shadow
United States (carrier models)SM-S942U12 GB / 256 GB12 GB / 512 GBUnited StatesCobalt Violet, White, Black, Sky Blue
CanadaSM-S942W12 GB / 256 GB12 GB / 512 GBCanadaCobalt Violet, Black, Sky Blue, Pink Gold, Silver Shadow
Hong Kong and TaiwanSM-S942012 GB / 256 GB12 GB / 512 GBTaiwan, Hong KongCobalt Violet, White, Black, Sky Blue, Pink Gold, Silver Shadow
South KoreaSM-S942N12 GB / 256 GB12 GB / 512 GBSouth KoreaCobalt Violet, White, Black, Sky Blue, Pink Gold, Silver Shadow
Japan (SIM-free)SM-S942Q12 GB / 256 GB12 GB / 512 GBJapanCobalt Violet, White, Black, Sky Blue, Pink Gold, Silver Shadow
Japan (docomo)SM-S942D12 GB / 256 GB12 GB / 512 GBJapanCobalt Violet, White, Black, Sky BlueVaries by configuration
Japan (au)SM-S942J12 GB / 256 GB12 GB / 512 GBJapanCobalt Violet, Black, Sky BlueVaries by configuration
Japan (SoftBank)SM-S942Z12 GB / 256 GB12 GB / 512 GBJapanCobalt Violet, White, Black, Sky Blue
Japan (Rakuten Mobile)SM-S942C12 GB / 256 GBJapanCobalt Violet, White, Black

Software

Software support: Seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates, counted from the global launch date (Samsung US launch release).

Source-backed strengths and limitations

Strengths

  • At 167 g, the lightest phone in this index, and at 149.6 mm the shortest one that does not fold.
  • A 10 MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom beside the 50 MP main camera.
  • Seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates from global launch, per Samsung US.

Limitations

  • The smallest battery of the S26 series (4,300 mAh) and 25W wired charging.
  • The chip depends on the market: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the US, and Samsung does not say which countries get the Exynos 2600.
  • Samsung lists the display as FHD+ without an exact pixel count.

Pricing

$899.99 · United States · launch price · Checked 2026-09-30 · Source

Sources & verification

Spotted a wrong value? Send us the official source.Report a correction

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