5 Android phones you should buy instead of the Samsung Galaxy S26

The Galaxy S26 — Samsung’s base model in the latest Galaxy S lineup — is an interesting smartphone. It has a slightly larger display and a bigger battery than the S25, plus a new starting base storage of 256GB. Not bad!

However, with a $100 price increase, the value proposition changes significantly — especially since practically every other aspect of the S26 remains unchanged from the S25. Ultimately, it means this year’s base Galaxy S phone will likely be harder to recommend than ever.

The good news is that there are ample other choices available. If you aren’t thrilled with the Galaxy S26, here are five other Android phones you should buy instead.

It shouldn’t come as any surprise that one of the best Galaxy S26 alternatives is the Galaxy S25. Why? Because the two phones are so similar.

The triple rear camera system and selfie camera? The same on both phones. Charging speeds? Identical. The displays? The exact same refresh rate, resolution, and max brightness. The RAM, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other connectivity specs are unchanged, too.

Given all of that, what’s the point of the Galaxy S26? You get a newer Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, but the Snapdragon 8 Elite inside the Galaxy S25 remains extremely capable in 2026. The S26 has a larger battery (4,300 mAh, up from 4,000 mAh), but Samsung only promises about an extra hour of use. The S26 also has a slightly larger 6.3-inch display, up from 6.2 inches on the S25.

Are those upgrades worth $900? Not if you ask me. Without any discounts, the 128GB and 256GB variants of the Galaxy S25 ($800 and $860, respectively) are both better deals. And at this point in the S25’s life, it’s very easy to find it on sale for a dramatically lower price. Unless you absolutely need to have Samsung’s newest phone, do yourself a favor and save some money with the Galaxy S25.

The Galaxy S25 is a great choice over the S26, but it’s not the phone I would choose. Instead, I’d pick the Google Pixel 10. And if you’re not fully committed to the Samsung ecosystem, I think you should, too.

As someone who frequently takes zoomed-in photos, the 5x telephoto camera on the Pixel 10 is a lot more versatile than the aging 3x telephoto sensor on the Galaxy S25 (and S26). I also adore the Pixel 10’s built-in magnets. Yes, you can use Samsung’s phones with magnetic chargers and accessories with a compatible case, but having that functionality built into the phone itself is a convenience I’ve really come to rely on.

Then there’s the software. I know a lot of people like Samsung One UI, but I find Google’s Pixel interface to be the best way to use Android. It’s cleaner, easier to navigate, and filled with AI features that are (in my experience) significantly more useful. Plus, as an Android nerd, being first in line for major Android updates is an equally great perk.

The Pixel 10 starts at $799 for the 128GB model, while the 256GB version is just a dollar shy of the Galaxy S26 at $899. However, at the time of writing, Amazon has the Pixel 10 on sale for as little as $675. Whether you have to pay full price or can find it on sale, the Pixel 10 stands out as a strong S26 alternative.

While the Pixel 10 is my preferred phone on this list, I’ll be the first to admit it’s not the best choice if you want to get the absolute most bang for your buck. If that’s the case, I’d strongly recommend the OnePlus 13R. Although OnePlus no longer sells the phone, you can still find it at third-party retailers like Amazon and Best Buy for $600 or less. For $300 less than the Galaxy S26, the 13R is an unbelievably good deal.

Starting with the display, the OnePlus 13R has a much higher max brightness, a sharper resolution, and — critically for some users — a significantly higher PWM rate. The 13R’s 6,000mAh battery puts the S25’s 4,300mAh battery to shame, as do OnePlus’s 80W wired charging speeds (significantly faster than Samsung’s 25W maximum). The 13R’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip is still plenty powerful, and, like the S26, it comes with 256GB of storage by default.

Naturally, there are some downsides. The OnePlus 13R’s primary and telephoto cameras are decent, though the ultrawide sensor is a notable step down compared to the S26. The 13R has a lower IP65 rating than the S26’s IP68 protection, no wireless charging, and a software update policy that’s not nearly as strong (OnePlus only promises four major Android OS upgrades).

Are those legitimate compromises? Absolutely. But is it worth spending an extra $300 for the Galaxy S26 instead of buying the OnePlus 13R? I don’t think so.

The OnePlus 13R is a tremendous value, but it’s not a Samsung phone — and if you’re considering buying the Galaxy S26, that might be a deal-breaker. Lucky for you, there’s another phone that might be perfect: the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE.

Looking at the spec sheets side by side, the S25 FE is a downgrade compared to the S26 in most regards. However, those downgrades aren’t that significant. The S25 FE’s screen isn’t as bright as the S26’s, but it’s still an AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and the same resolution. The Exynos 2400 chip is perfectly fine for most users, and the cameras are surprisingly similar, too. The S25 FE even comes out ahead in the battery and charging departments, featuring a 4,900mAh battery and 45W wired charging.

At its retail price of $650 for the 128GB version (or $710 for 256GB), the Galaxy S25 FE is already a better deal than the Galaxy S26. However, if you time your purchase right, you can often buy the S25 FE for considerably less. Not that long ago, Samsung was selling the phone for just $450 — half the price of the Galaxy S26. If you find the Galaxy S25 FE on sale like that, it’s a no-brainer purchase over the S26.

My last pick doesn’t have the best specs compared to other phones on this list, and it’s not the best value either. However, if you’re less concerned with those things and primarily want a phone that’s unique and different, the Nothing Phone 3 is the phone for you.

Just one look at the Nothing Phone 3 shows why. With its transparent design, wild camera placement, and miniature rear display in the top-right corner, it’s the perfect antidote to the Galaxy S26’s rehashed design that Samsung’s been using since the S23. No other Android phone looks like the Nothing Phone 3, and while it certainly isn’t for everyone, it is commendable.

The specs, while not mind-blowing, are still solid. The Nothing Phone 3 has a great OLED screen, a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, good cameras, a big battery, 65W wired charging, and is promised to receive up to five Android upgrades. And, yes, you get 256GB of storage by default.

All of this is available for a retail price of $799, a not-insigificant $100 savings compared to the Galaxy S26. For an Android phone with such a unique design and solid all-around specs, that’s not bad at all.