Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus: Expensive Déjà Vu That Insults Your Intelligence

Samsung has perfected the art of asking customers to pay more for less. The Samsung Galaxy S26 and Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus represent everything wrong with modern smartphone iteration: minimal upgrades wrapped in premium pricing that borders on consumer contempt.

The numbers tell the story of Samsung's brazen cash grab. The 6.3-inch Galaxy S26 now starts at $899 for 256GB storage, while the 6.7-inch Galaxy S26 Plus demands $1,099 for the same capacity. That's a $100 price hike across the board compared to last year's models, with Samsung conveniently eliminating the cheaper 128GB option to force buyers into higher-margin configurations.

What do you get for that extra money? Practically nothing. Both phones feature the same tired design language as their predecessors, with only a slightly raised camera bump to distinguish them visually. The spec sheet reads like a greatest hits of incremental improvements: the S26 gets a marginally bigger battery, while the Plus offers faster wireless charging. These aren't innovations — they're the bare minimum updates Samsung could implement while maintaining the illusion of progress.

Perhaps most insulting is what Samsung didn't include. While Google has embraced Qi2 magnetic charging in its latest Pixel phones, Samsung stubbornly refuses to add this genuinely useful feature. Qi2 would enable MagSafe-style magnetic accessories and more reliable wireless charging, but Samsung apparently couldn't be bothered to include a feature that's becoming standard elsewhere.

The camera situation is equally disappointing. Both phones retain what can generously be called "basic cameras for a flagship," according to The Verge's review. While the Galaxy S26 Ultra gets Samsung's new privacy display and meaningful camera upgrades, the standard S26 models are left with photography capabilities that feel increasingly dated compared to competitors.

Samsung's software support remains solid with seven years of updates promised, but that's now table stakes rather than a selling point. When OnePlus, Google, and even budget manufacturers offer similar long-term support, Samsung can't claim this as a differentiator worth paying extra for.

The Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus earn a mediocre 7/10 from The Verge, but even that feels generous given the context. These aren't bad phones — they're just aggressively mediocre ones sold at premium prices. Samsung is banking on brand loyalty and carrier subsidies to move units, knowing that many buyers won't look closely enough at the spec sheets to realize they're paying more for essentially the same phone.

For consumers considering an upgrade, the math is simple: you're paying flagship prices for what amounts to a mid-cycle refresh. The Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus represent Samsung coasting on reputation while competitors like Google and Apple continue pushing boundaries.

Sources

• [The Verge: Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus review](https://www.theverge.com/tech/892311/samsung-galaxy-s26-plus-review-screen-battery-camera-software)