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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIf you want a phone instead of the Samsung Galaxy S26+, start with the Google Pixel 11 Pro or Pixel 11 Pro XL if you want to stay on Android, or consider the iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max if you are ready to switch to iOS. Neither is a universal upgrade: the right choice depends on your preferred software, camera style, phone size, battery priorities and the price you can actually buy it for.
What the Galaxy S26+ gives you as a baseline
Samsung’s US specifications list the Galaxy S26+ with a 6.7-inch display, 12 GB of memory, a 50 MP camera and storage options of 256 GB or 512 GB. Tom’s Guide lists its rear cameras as a 50 MP main camera, 12 MP ultrawide and 10 MP 3x telephoto. Those figures describe hardware, but megapixels alone do not determine photo quality.
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Tom’s Guide says official sales began March 11, 2026, with launch starting prices of $1,099 in the US, £1,099 in the UK and AU$1,849 in Australia. Those are launch prices, not current street prices; check the price for your region, storage size and purchase route before comparing value. The US Samsung specifications are available on Samsung’s Galaxy S26+ product page, and launch details and comparisons are covered in Tom’s Guide’s review.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Best Android alternatives: Google Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL
Choose a Pixel for Google’s Android experience
The Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL are the clearest Android alternatives in this shortlist if you prefer Google’s software and camera approach to Samsung’s. AT&T lists the Pixel 11 Pro alongside the Galaxy S26+ and iPhone 17 Pro in its comparison and identifies the Pixel’s Tensor G6 chipset. Review the exact model, size and configuration available in your market rather than assuming that every listing has the same specifications.
#1 Best Overall
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
Tom’s Guide notes that the Pixel 11 Pro XL offers 5x telephoto reach, compared with the S26+’s listed 3x telephoto camera, and discusses differences in color and detail in its sample photos. That is a reason to compare sample images against your own preferences, not proof that one phone will take better pictures in every situation. The Pixel 11 Pro XL’s longer optical reach may matter for distant subjects; the best rendering is subjective.
Battery and performance figures to interpret carefully
In Tom’s Guide’s continuous 5G web-browsing battery test, the Pixel 11 Pro XL lasted 14 hours 28 minutes and the Pixel 11 Pro lasted 13 hours 25 minutes. The Pixel 11 Pro XL also scored 2,713 single-core and 7,453 multicore in Geekbench 6 in Tom’s Guide’s review. These are results for those reviewed models and methods, not guarantees of everyday battery life or a complete measure of performance in all apps. See Tom’s Guide’s Pixel 11 Pro review for its test context.
Rank #2
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
Best iPhone alternatives: iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max
Choose an iPhone only if iOS suits you
The iPhone 17 Pro is a direct comparison option in AT&T’s phone lineup; the iPhone 17 Pro Max is the larger-model comparison used in Tom’s Guide’s camera and battery coverage. Both mean moving from Android to Apple’s iOS, so they are not drop-in replacements if you want to keep Samsung’s or Google’s Android environment. Consider your existing apps, services and devices before choosing a platform.
Tom’s Guide compares S26+ and iPhone 17 Pro Max sample photos and describes differences in image rendering. Its continuous 5G browsing test recorded 17 hours 54 minutes for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. That is the result for Tom’s Guide’s test method and reviewed phone, not a promise of typical runtime or a direct prediction for the smaller iPhone 17 Pro. Camera comparisons and battery-test details appear in Tom’s Guide’s Galaxy S26+ review; AT&T’s comparison is at AT&T’s device comparison page.
Rank #3
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
How the tested battery results compare
These figures come from Tom’s Guide’s custom continuous 5G web-browsing test. They are useful for comparing those specific reviewed phones under one methodology, but they do not establish how long each will last with your mix of apps, signal conditions and settings.
| Phone tested | Time in test | Source and context |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S26+ | 13 hours 13 minutes | Tom’s Guide custom continuous 5G browsing test; 2026 review |
| Google Pixel 11 Pro | 13 hours 25 minutes | Tom’s Guide continuous 5G web-browsing test; 2026 review |
| Google Pixel 11 Pro XL | 14 hours 28 minutes | Tom’s Guide custom continuous 5G browsing test; 2026 review |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | 17 hours 54 minutes | Tom’s Guide custom continuous 5G browsing test; 2026 review |
OnePlus 15: consider it only where support is clear
OnePlus 15 may be worth investigating in markets where you can confirm that the phone is sold and supported. TechRadar says it removed the OnePlus 15 as its best Android phone pick in its US guide because OnePlus had pulled out of the US market. TechRadar’s lab battery test recorded almost 22 hours of constant use, but that result does not establish US availability, network compatibility, warranty coverage or after-sales support. Check all four directly before buying; the test and US-market context are in TechRadar’s OnePlus phone guide.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Brilliant 6.3" Display: Enjoy a sharp Dynamic AMOLED 2X FHD+ screen with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, HDR support, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and smooth everyday viewing for streaming, gaming, and browsing.
- Next-Gen Galaxy Performance: Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor, 12GB RAM, Adreno 840 graphics, and 256GB internal storage for fast multitasking, gaming, AI features, and productivity.
- Pro-Grade Triple Camera: Capture sharp photos and video with a 50MP wide camera with OIS, 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, 12MP ultrawide camera, 12MP front camera, and up to 8K video recording.
- Fast 5G + Modern Connectivity: Supports 5G Sub-6 and mmWave, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, GPS, USB-C, wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, and a long-lasting 4300mAh battery.
- Unlocked US Model with Nano-SIM + eSIM (Dual SIM) support. Compatible with major GSM and CDMA carriers including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Metro, Straight Talk, Global GSM and other supported networks. (If carrier not listed, please contact seller to confirm MVNO compatibility. )
Rank #4
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
How to choose the right alternative
- Platform: Pick a Pixel if you want Google’s Android experience, stay with Samsung if you prefer its software, or choose an iPhone only if moving to iOS works for you.
- Size: The S26+ has a 6.7-inch display. Compare the dimensions and display sizes of the specific alternatives available in your region before treating one as a like-for-like replacement.
- Camera: Compare actual photos and zoom needs, not just megapixel counts. The S26+ lists a 3x telephoto camera; Tom’s Guide notes the Pixel 11 Pro XL’s 5x reach and describes differences in rendering between Samsung and Apple sample photos.
- Battery: Use the attributed test results above as one consistent comparison, not an everyday runtime estimate.
- Performance: Samsung’s processor differs by market: Tom’s Guide’s US S26+ review unit used Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, while its UK model used Exynos 2600. Keep region in mind when comparing performance claims. Geekbench scores are specific to the reviewed Pixel 11 Pro XL and that benchmark.
- Total cost: Compare the current unlocked price with any carrier offer’s full terms. AT&T’s comparison describes eligibility, trade-ins and installment terms; a headline offer may depend on a qualifying plan, trade-in and payment schedule.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
