Which Samsung Galaxy to buy in the UK in 2026

For most UK buyers the Galaxy S26 at £799 is the sensible default: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, a 120Hz LTPO display, full Galaxy AI and 7 years of OS plus security updates. Pick the Galaxy A56 (£449) if budget matters more than long-term performance. Pick the S26 Ultra if you keep your phone five years or longer, or you rely on the S Pen and 5x telephoto camera.

Samsung guarantees 7 years of OS upgrades and 7 years of security updates on every Galaxy S and Z model sold in the UK since 2024. That covers the S25, S26 and Z Fold7 / Z Flip7. Galaxy A mid-range phones get 6 years of both. The S26 line is officially supported until at least February 2033.

Almost always cheaper outright (or on Samsung 0% finance) plus a SIM-only plan. A typical 24-month Galaxy S26 contract bundles £17 to £22 a month for the handset on top of the airtime. Over 24 months that often totals £100 to £300 more than buying the phone from Samsung Direct and pairing it with a £10 SIM-only deal.

No, but they hold better than most Android phones. Galaxy S flagships typically retain 35 to 45% of their original price after two years on the UK second-hand market, against 50 to 60% for iPhones. Foldables hold even better. Mid-range Galaxy A phones lose half their value in the first year. Samsung's launch trade-in offer often closes the gap with iPhone resale by adding £200 to £500 at point of purchase.

Galaxy AI is Samsung's on-device AI feature set, originally launched with the S24 in early 2024. Live Translate, Note Assist, Generative Edit and Circle to Search run on every Galaxy S22 and later, every Z Flip 4 / Z Fold 4 and later, and every Galaxy A35 / A55 and later. Older models do not get the full feature set because they lack the required NPU performance.

Only if you find a real discount. The S25 still has Galaxy AI and at least 6 more years of security support. Samsung typically drops the S25 SIM-free price by around £150 once the S26 ships, so it can be a genuine bargain at £649 or lower. If Samsung Direct still lists it at over £700, the S26 is the better buy at retail.

The Z Flip7 is a normal-sized phone that folds in half. Pick it for the pocket-size factor, the cover-screen widgets and the price (£1,049). The Z Fold7 is a phone that opens into an 8" tablet. Pick it if you read, write or watch a lot on your phone and want a full tablet experience without carrying a second device. The Fold is £750 more expensive but is a genuine productivity tool with S Pen support.