Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus vs Galaxy S23 Plus is one of the most anticipated smartphone comparisons as users look forward to understanding what upgrades Samsung is preparing for its next flagship generation. With expected improvements in performance, display brightness, battery capacity, and AI-driven camera features, the S26 Plus may bring noticeable advancements over the Galaxy S23 Plus. This comparison is already gaining attention among Samsung fans worldwide, especially for those wondering whether the upgrade will be worth it or if the S23 Plus still holds strong in 2025.
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 Plus is shaping up to be a meaningful upgrade over the Galaxy S23 Plus, and if rumours hold true, the differences between them will go beyond just minor tweaks. PhoneArena+1
📱 Design & Display
The Galaxy S26 Plus is expected to sport a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display — slightly larger than the S23 Plus’s 6.6-inch AMOLED screen. PhoneArena+1 The bigger screen is paired with a design that’s marginally taller but narrower and thinner than the S23 Plus, giving it a sleeker, more modern silhouette. PhoneArena+1
Perhaps the most noticeable change: the S26 Plus reportedly brings a better display experience — peak brightness and panel quality are expected to improve compared with the S23 Plus. PhoneArena+1
⚙️ Performance & Hardware
Under the hood, S26 Plus is tipped to bring a newer chipset: in many regions, it will run on Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 or Samsung’s own Exynos 2600. PhoneArena+1 By contrast, the S23 Plus used Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Tom’s Guide
RAM and storage also see an upgrade: the S26 Plus is expected to come standard with 12 GB RAM (vs 8 GB on S23 Plus) and similar storage options (256 GB / 512 GB). PhoneArena+1 The result should be smoother multitasking, better performance especially for heavy apps and games, and more future-proofing.
📸 Camera & Imaging
On paper, the rear camera setup remains similar: both phones are likely to feature a triple camera system. For S26 Plus, the main sensor stays 50 MP, and it’s said the ultrawide and telephoto modules may see modest improvements (for instance, a potentially different sensor or better processing) over the S23 Plus. Gadgets 360+1
Though the hardware changes aren’t dramatic, better image processing in the newer device could lead to noticeably improved photo quality, especially in challenging lighting. PhoneArena+1
🔋 Battery & Charging
Battery capacity gets a slight bump: the S26 Plus is expected to house about a 4,900 mAh battery versus the 4,700 mAh unit in the S23 Plus. PhoneArena+1 Wired charging remains at 45W for both. Tom’s Guide+1
Wireless charging on the S26 Plus could improve as well, with new Qi2 support and possibly faster wireless charging speeds — an edge over the S23 Plus’s older wireless charging specs. PhoneArena+1
🧠 Software & Future-proofing
Given the newer hardware and expected launch window, S26 Plus will ship with the latest Android version and is likely to get longer software and security update support compared to the S23 Plus. PhoneArena+1
For users who keep their phones for several years, this longevity can be a major deciding factor.
✅ Verdict: Is S26 Plus Worth Upgrading From S23 Plus?
If you value bigger and brighter screen, stronger performance, better battery & charging options, and more longevity, then Galaxy S26 Plus appears to deliver meaningful upgrades over S23 Plus. The improvements aren’t radical — cameras remain similar and the design stays in the family — but the incremental upgrades across display, performance, battery, and future-proofing add up.
For anyone buying a new phone or upgrading from an older model, S26 Plus looks like the smarter, longer-lasting choice. If your main concern is great value for money and you are satisfied with what S23 Plus offers today, then waiting might still make sense — but S26 Plus likely represents a more future-ready device that’ll age better.
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