Samsung Galaxy S25 vs S26: Which One Should You Buy in 2026?

If you are comparing the Samsung Galaxy S25 vs S26, the real question is not simply which phone is newer. The better question is this: do you want the latest Samsung flagship upgrades, or do you want the smarter-value buy? Samsung's official comparison says the Galaxy S26 brings a 6.3-inch display, a 4,300mAh battery, and newer software, while the Galaxy S25 keeps a 6.2-inch display, a 4,000mAh battery, and very similar base camera hardware.

From a Zextons point of view, this comparison is even more interesting because the Galaxy S25 is already available as a refurbished option from £474.99 on your Galaxy S Series category page, while Zextons also has a live brand-new Galaxy S26 listing. That means customers are not just choosing between two phones. They are choosing between better value now and the newest experience available now.

Quick answer

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 if you want:

the newest generation
a slightly bigger 6.3-inch screen
a larger 4,300mAh battery
newer software out of the box
256GB storage as the starting point on Zextons' live product listing snippet.

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 if you want:

better value for money
a slightly smaller and easier-to-handle phone
very similar core camera hardware
a cheaper entry point through Zextons refurbished stock, starting from £474.99 on the Galaxy S Series page.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs S26 comparison table

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S26	Samsung Galaxy S25
Best for	Buyers who want the newest model, bigger battery, and more base storage	Buyers who want better value and a slightly smaller phone
Condition at Zextons	Brand new listing available	Refurbished listing available
Zextons starting point	Brand-new product page live on site	From £464.99 on Zextons Galaxy S Series page
Display size	6.3-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X	6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Refresh rate	120Hz	120Hz
Processor	Exynos 2600	Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
RAM	12GB	12GB
Storage	256GB / 512GB	128GB / 256GB / 512GB
Battery	4,300mAh	4,000mAh
Rear camera	50MP wide + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP telephoto	50MP wide + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP telephoto
Front camera	12MP	12MP
Software position	Newer generation, ships one generation ahead	Older generation, but still strongly relevant
Size	149.6 x 71.7 x 7.2 mm	146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm
Weight	167g	162g
Main strength	Newer phone with better battery and higher base storage	Better value for money
Main weakness	Higher cost	Smaller battery and older generation

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs S26: Key differences at a glance

Samsung's own support comparison highlights the core base-model changes clearly. The Galaxy S26 moves up to a 6.3-inch display and 4,300mAh battery, while the Galaxy S25 remains at 6.2 inches and 4,000mAh. Samsung also lists the S26 with 256GB and 512GB storage options, while the S25 includes 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB options.

The most important thing for customers to understand is that this is not a complete reinvention. It is a refinement. The camera setup remains broadly the same on Samsung's official comparison, with a 50MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto, and 12MP selfie camera on both phones. That means the S26 improves the overall package, but it does not completely outclass the S25 in every area.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs S26: Price and value

This is where the comparison becomes most useful for Zextons customers.

On your Galaxy S Series page, Zextons currently lists the refurbished Samsung Galaxy S25 from £474.99. That is a very strong entry point for a recent flagship phone.

Zextons also has a live product page for the brand-new Samsung Galaxy S26, and the indexed product snippet confirms it is being sold as a 256GB, dual-SIM, unlocked, UK-compatible model. I could verify the product listing itself, but I could not reliably confirm a current selling price from publicly accessible results because the product page blocked direct fetch.

That means the clearest and safest value argument in this article is:

if a customer wants the lowest cost for flagship-level Samsung performance, the Galaxy S25 refurbished is likely the stronger buy on Zextons today, starting from £474.99.
if a customer wants the newest Samsung base flagship, brand-new condition, 256GB base storage, and the latest generation feel, the Galaxy S26 is the better fit.

This value gap is exactly where Zextons can beat generic comparison blogs. Big publishers compare launch prices. Zextons can guide buyers based on real store inventory, refurbished savings, and actual purchase value.

Galaxy S25 vs S26 specs comparison

On paper, the Galaxy S26 is better in several headline areas, but the differences are measured rather than dramatic.

Samsung's official comparison shows:

S26 display: 6.3-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X
S25 display: 6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X
S26 battery: 4,300mAh
S25 battery: 4,000mAh
S26 storage: 256GB / 512GB
S25 storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB
both cameras: 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto, 12MP front.

So the practical takeaway is simple: the S26 improves screen size, battery, and base storage, while the S25 remains very competitive in the parts most customers use every day, especially display quality and camera hardware.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs S26: Design and display

If design and comfort matter to you, the Galaxy S25 still has a very strong case. Samsung's official figures show the S26 is physically larger than the S25, which makes sense because of the bigger screen. Engadget and Android Central both emphasize this same shift: the S26 moves slightly away from the smaller, compact-flagship feel that the S25 still offers.

That makes the buyer choice clearer:

choose the Galaxy S25 if you want a more compact daily phone
choose the Galaxy S26 if you want a little more room for streaming, gaming, reading, and multitasking.

Because both phones still use Samsung's premium AMOLED approach and high refresh rates, the real difference is less about quality and more about size preference.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs S26: Performance and software

Samsung's official UK support comparison lists the Galaxy S26 with Exynos 2600 and the Galaxy S25 with Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy in that market comparison. Zextons' live S26 product snippet also presents the device as a premium 5G flagship with 256GB storage and dual-SIM support.

For most customers, the experience difference will likely be:

S26 feels newer and starts with the latest software
S25 still feels fast enough for everyday flagship use

That is important because many shoppers overestimate year-to-year performance gaps. In reality, both phones sit in the premium Samsung flagship class. The S26 is more future-facing. The S25 is more value-focused.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs S26 camera comparison

This is one of the biggest reasons many buyers should not rush to upgrade.

Samsung's official side-by-side comparison shows the base camera hardware is effectively the same on both models: 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto, and 12MP front camera.

That means:

if you already have an S25, the S26 is not a huge camera-hardware jump
if you are buying fresh, the S25 still gives you a strong flagship camera setup at a lower cost
any S26 advantage is more likely to come from software tuning and image processing than from a dramatic sensor upgrade.

For a value-driven Zextons customer, this is one of the strongest reasons the S25 remains relevant.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs S26 battery life and charging

Battery is one of the clearest real upgrades on the newer phone.

Samsung's official comparison lists the S26 with a 4,300mAh battery and the S25 with 4,000mAh.

That does not automatically mean a night-and-day difference, but it does make the S26 the better choice for buyers who care about:

longer everyday endurance
a bit more peace of mind through a busy day
keeping the phone for several years

If battery is high on the customer's priority list, the S26 has a fair advantage. If price matters more than a moderate battery bump, the S25 still makes sense.

Zextons buying angle: new or refurbished?

This is the part most generic comparison articles miss.

Zextons is not just another content site. It sells both brand-new and refurbished devices, and your homepage highlights benefits like 18-month warranty on refurbished devices, free UK next-day delivery, 30-day free return, and a free protection bundle.

That means your real buyer paths are:

Choose the Samsung Galaxy S26 from Zextons if:
You want the newest Samsung base model, you prefer buying brand new, you want the latest generation from day one, and you are happy to pay more for freshness and longer runway. Zextons' indexed product result confirms the S26 listing is brand new, dual-SIM, unlocked, and UK-compatible.

Choose the Samsung Galaxy S25 from Zextons if:
You want maximum value, you are open to refurbished, and you want to save heavily without dropping too far down the Samsung ladder. Zextons currently lists the refurbished S25 from £474.99, which is the clearest price-backed value point I could verify.

This is where Zextons can win in search and in conversions: by showing customers how to choose based on real buying priorities, not just spec sheets.

Should you upgrade from Galaxy S25 to S26?

For most existing S25 users, probably not immediately.

The S26 is better, but the official differences suggest a refinement cycle, not a complete leap. You get a slightly larger display, a larger battery, newer software, and higher base storage, but the display class and base camera hardware remain very close.

Upgrade from S25 to S26 if:

battery life matters a lot to you
you want the newest Samsung software and features first
you want 256GB as your starting point
your current S25 storage or battery already feels limiting

Keep the S25 if:

you still like its size
your current performance is already good
camera quality is already meeting your needs
value matters more than having the newest model

Is the Samsung Galaxy S25 still worth buying in 2026?

Yes, absolutely.

The reason is simple: Zextons already shows the refurbished S25 from £474.99, while the S25 still delivers a recent flagship experience with Samsung's premium display and flagship camera layout.

For many customers, that is the sweet spot:

recent flagship performance
much lower spend than a brand-new latest-generation device
Samsung familiarity
Zextons after-sales reassurance through warranty, delivery, and returns on relevant stock.

If the goal is best value, the S25 remains a very strong option in 2026. You can also explore our guide to the best refurbished Samsung phones to buy in 2026 for a broader comparison across the Galaxy range.

Which phone is better for different buyers?

Buy the Galaxy S26 if you are:

a buyer who wants the newest Samsung model
someone who prefers brand-new stock
someone who wants the bigger battery
someone who wants 256GB base storage
someone who wants the latest software from the start.

Buy the Galaxy S25 if you are:

a value-focused buyer
happy to buy refurbished
looking for a more compact flagship
not focused on tiny year-to-year upgrades
trying to get the most Samsung phone for your money.

Final verdict: Samsung Galaxy S25 vs S26

The Samsung Galaxy S26 is the better phone overall. It gives you the slightly bigger display, the larger battery, newer software, and a more future-facing starting point. Samsung's own comparison supports that clearly.

But the Samsung Galaxy S25 is likely the better buy for many Zextons customers.

Why? Because the camera hardware remains very close, the display experience stays premium, and Zextons currently lists the refurbished S25 from £474.99, which creates a powerful value argument.

So the honest result is:

Choose the Galaxy S26 if you want the newest Samsung flagship experience in the standard model.
Choose the Galaxy S25 if you want the smarter-value purchase and do not need minor year-on-year upgrades.

That is the most truthful buyer recommendation based on Samsung's official comparison and the Zextons store data I could verify.

Want to explore more options? Browse our full Samsung Galaxy S Series range, check out the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus if you want a larger screen without going to the S26, or see the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want the most powerful S25-generation phone available. You can also read our full Samsung Galaxy S26 preview guide for deeper detail on what the S26 brings to the table.

FAQ

Is Samsung Galaxy S26 better than Galaxy S25?

Yes, overall it is better because Samsung lists a larger 6.3-inch display, a 4,300mAh battery, and newer-generation software support on the newer model.

Should I buy Galaxy S25 or Galaxy S26 from Zextons?

Buy the S26 if you want brand new and latest-gen. Buy the S25 if you want stronger value, especially since Zextons currently lists refurbished S25 stock from £474.99.

Is Galaxy S25 still worth buying in 2026?

Yes. It remains a strong value option, especially when bought refurbished through Zextons.

What is the biggest difference between Galaxy S25 and S26?

The most important differences are the S26's 6.3-inch display, 4,300mAh battery, and higher base storage, while the S25 stays smaller and cheaper.

Is Galaxy S26 worth upgrading to from Galaxy S25?

Usually only if you want the larger display, bigger battery, newer software, or higher base storage. Otherwise, it looks more iterative than revolutionary.