After months and months of leaks and rumors, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely is lastly right here. And it is precisely what we anticipated it to be.
Samsung’s newest ultra-flagship is a affirmation that Samsung would not wish to repair what is not damaged, and the S26 Extremely’s design and specs are a testomony to that ethos.
Little or no has modified between the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the S26 Extremely, which is each a blessing and curse.
Nonetheless, it is simple that the S26 Extremely is likely one of the strongest telephones of the 12 months, and also you could be taking a look at one together with your hand tightly curled round your bank card.
However do not pull that monetary set off simply but. There are a number of telephones you must contemplate as a substitute.
Listed below are the 5 telephones you can purchase as a substitute of the Galaxy S26 Extremely.
OnePlus 15
An actual cut price telephone
The OnePlus 15 is likely one of the few telephones that may go toe-to-toe with the S26 Extremely and are available up grinning.
Samsung’s telephone might sit atop the mountain, however it shares that summit with OnePlus’s finest, and as such, it is onerous to choose between the 2 of them.
Let’s discuss specs. Each telephones have the newest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, as much as 1TB of storage, and both 12GB or 16GB of RAM. These are monstrous specs, and neither is more likely to allow you to down by way of pure energy.
The S26 Extremely has an edge in digital camera specs, because of its 200-megapixel primary lens and further telephoto lens, however the OnePlus 15’s shooters are nonetheless greater than succesful.
It’s kind of extra even once we have a look at the show specs, although. The OnePlus 15 has a 165Hz refresh fee, however the S26 Extremely is brighter.
However the battery is the place the OnePlus pulls away onerous. Not solely is the 7,300mAh battery cell a lot bigger than the S26 Extremely’s 5,000mAh, however it additionally has 120W wired charging and 50W wi-fi charging, eclipsing the Extremely’s 60W wired and 25W wi-fi charging.
The battery makes the OnePlus telephone an actual contender, and admittedly, if we’re speaking about what makes the telephone distinctive, a longer-lasting battery knocks the S Pen right into a cocked hat.
Then there’s the ultimate clincher: the worth. The OnePlus 15 retails for lower than the S26 Extremely, which makes it an actual cut price, specs thought-about.
8.5/10
- SoC
-
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- RAM
-
12GB / 16GB
- Storage
-
256GB / 512GB
- Battery
-
7,300mAh
The OnePlus 15 brings an enormous 7,300mAh battery to the flagship telephone desk, which when paired with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor provides it spectacular battery life. Regardless of the battery dimension, the telephone has a contemporary design and modest weight, and in addition showcases OnePlus’s new DetailMax Engine for the digital camera.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
An distinctive piece of tech
Samsung’s personal roster accommodates plenty of S26 Extremely alternate options by itself, so we would be remiss if we did not point out probably the most notable of these.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is one among Samsung’s most spectacular gadgets, filled with top-tier specs, and a cutting-edge foldable physique.
These are each highly effective smartphones, however the S26 Extremely is technically extra highly effective.
The Z Fold 7’s Snapdragon 8 Elite is a era behind the Extremely’s processor — however do not let that idiot you into considering it is much less succesful. It nonetheless will not allow you to down.
Digicam specs are comparable, although the Extremely’s cameras are higher and extra quite a few. The Extremely additionally has an edge in battery dimension and charging fee too.
However everyone knows the Z Fold 7’s actual benefit; it is the folding kind issue. Open up the system, and also you shift from a 6.5-inch show to a mini-tablet sized 8-inch show.
It is a game-changer, and the easiest way to view movies and photographs on a telephone. Going again to an everyday system after utilizing a foldable telephone is hard.
It is not Samsung’s costliest telephone — that is now the TriFold‘s area — however it’s nonetheless an costly system. It is one of many few telephones to be costlier than the S26 Extremely, however that basically is for a cause.
It is an distinctive piece of tech, and the one to purchase in order for you an actual style of the way forward for smartphones.
8.5/10
- SoC
-
Snapdragon 8 Elite
- RAM
-
12GB or 16GB
- Storage
-
256GB, 512GB, or 1TB
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the thinnest and lightest within the collection up to now, integrating a robust Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor for enhanced AI capabilities and a 200MP pro-grade digital camera. Constructed for enhanced sturdiness with an Armor FlexHinge and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, the system incorporates a wider 6.5-inch cowl display screen and unfolds into an expansive 8.0-inch primary show for immersive viewing and productiveness.
Google Pixel 10 Professional XL
The most important Pixel is all about AI
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is not the telephone to purchase in order for you one thing with the Extremely’s processing energy. But it surely nonetheless has rather a lot going for it, particularly for those who’re in search of AI methods and an outstanding digital camera.
The Pixel 10 Professional XL’s Tensor G5 chip is not as much as the identical energy because the Extremely, however you’re kidding yourself for those who do not assume it is as much as the duty of something you may ask from it.
Whereas the brand new Tensor chip is keyed to AI efficiency, it’s going to nonetheless run any recreation, app, or course of you want it to.
However sure, the largest Pixel is all about AI. Samsung is catching up with One UI 8.5, however what Samsung is introducing now, Google has had for ages.
With AI-powered name screening, recording, and even sifting via your Gmail for useful data, the Pixel 10 Professional XL is the AI phone.
It additionally helps that the Pixel’s digital camera is so good, too. The Extremely might have greater specs, however Google has at all times sprinkled fairy mud on its telephone cameras, and this 12 months’s Pixels aren’t any completely different.
The Pixel 10 Professional XL is not a telephone with the ability of a rampaging bull, just like the S26 Extremely, however it makes use of its strengths in numerous methods. If that appeals to you, then this Pixel is a good alternative.
9/10
- SoC
-
Google Tensor G5
- RAM
-
16GB
- Storage
-
256 GB / 512 GB / 1TB with Zoned UFS / 1 TB with Zoned UFS
The Pixel 10 Professional XL packs all the identical options you will discover on its inexpensive siblings, together with a number of unique options like a 6.8-inch show and quicker charging.
Moto Razr Extremely 2025
The most effective flip smartphone you should purchase
We have already highlighted one foldable telephone, however there’s at all times room for one more one.
The Moto Razr+ 2025 is, fairly merely, one of the best flip smartphone you should purchase in the intervening time. If a flip telephone tickles your fancy, that is what you can purchase as a substitute of the S26 Extremely.
It is necessary to notice you are getting a downgrade. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor continues to be a succesful chip, however it’s nowhere close to the extent of the Extremely’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
The Razr+’s 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM is far more in step with what you will anticipate from the Extremely, although.
Once more, the Extremely’s cameras are higher, although the Razr+’s are nonetheless respectable, and the battery and charging specs are additionally barely decrease, although with the weaker {hardware} there’s much less of a pressure on the battery anyway, so it ought to principally even out.
However the Razr+’s actual promoting level is, you guessed it, its fold. The clamshell fold means it would not develop into an enormous tablet-like show just like the Z Fold 7, however it does imply it will possibly fold down right into a bundle a lot shorter than the same old telephone.
Even higher, the outer 4-inch show is way extra helpful than you would possibly anticipate. It will run plenty of apps on it fairly properly, and you can do extra with it than you’ll have thought. And if you want it to, it unfolds right into a regular-sized telephone.
The Moto Razr+ 2025 is the telephone to choose up for those who assume a clamshell folding telephone would match your vibe — however not solely that. It is a very succesful smartphone in its personal proper, and a very good different to the Galaxy S26 Extremely.
7/10
- SoC
-
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
- RAM
-
16GB
- Storage
-
512GB, 1TB
The Moto Razr Extremely is the foldable you have been ready for. With a brand new digital camera system, top-tier specs, and a bigger, brighter show, it is a Razr designed to go head-to-head with Samsung — for a value, after all.
Samsung Galaxy A56
This is the place it can save you some cash
You most likely did not anticipate to see such an inexpensive telephone on this listing, however we’re throwing in a wild card on the finish.
Normally, you’d see us suggest final 12 months’s model of the identical telephone as a substitute, and sure, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely is a great different. However the Samsung Galaxy A56 beat that telephone to be the phone that most impressed our reviewer Stephen in 2025.
It is clearly not as highly effective because the S26 Extremely, nor will it have the identical digital camera capabilities, or all the identical superior options. But it surely does have one factor. It has enough.
The Exynos 1580 is a robust sufficient chip for many, and it will run most video games simply high quality. The 5,000mAh battery is stable, and the 45W charging beats the Z Fold 7, amusingly sufficient.
The cameras are a little bit of a letdown, and any time you see a macro lens you must pause, however it’s by no means going to be excellent on the value.
It is the worth that is the largest draw right here. As a substitute of dropping 4 figures on the S26 Extremely, pause for a second and marvel if a very good telephone that prices a lot much less would work simply as properly for you. As a result of it’d, and that is value all the cash saved.
- SoC
-
Exynos 1580
- RAM
-
8GB
- Storage
-
128GB
- Battery
-
5000 mAh
- Working System
-
OneUI 7.0, Android 15
- Connectivity
-
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, NFC
The Samsung Galaxy A56 is a robust mid-ranger for on a regular basis use. It boasts a 6.7-inch Tremendous AMOLED 120Hz show for clean visuals and a triple-camera rear setup headlined by 50MP large shooter.
It is powered by a 5,000 mAh battery and is designed for long-term use with six generations of Android OS upgrades and 6 years of safety updates.
