Phone (3) vs Galaxy S26
Winner
Samsung Galaxy S26
The Galaxy S26 wins this one, taking display and performance decisively. Against the Phone (3) it's also the sounder buy at $10.06 per month of safe use.
Value Score: Phone (3) 69 · Galaxy S26 74 — methodology
Who should pick which
Beyond the scores — our take on each phone and the buyer it actually suits.
At $799 the Nothing Phone (3) asks full-flagship money and answers with the most distinctive design in phones plus a seven-year security promise — the catch is a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 that sits a rung below the chips rivals hand you for the same cash.
Pick it if
- ✓ Design lovers who want to stand out
- ✓ Long-term keepers who value updates
- ✓ People bored of identical glass slabs
Skip it if
- ✗ You want maximum performance per dollar
- ✗ You rely on carrier financing or in-store service
Samsung's freshest compact flagship buys you the longest runway on the shelf — supported to March 2033 — but the $40 price hike and unchanged 25W charging mean you're paying mostly for time, not new tricks.
Pick it if
- ✓ Long-term keepers
- ✓ Compact-phone fans
- ✓ Buyers who upgrade once a decade
Skip it if
- ✗ You own an S24 or S25 — the year-over-year gains are thin
- ✗ You want fast charging
The lifespan decider
When specs are close, support length decides it — this is what each phone costs per month of safe use.
Category by category
The Galaxy S26's screen is the better one — 6.3-inch dynamic ltpo amoled 2x, fhd+, 1–120hz, up to 2600 nits.
The Galaxy S26's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy is simply the faster chip.
Camera systems are comparable on paper — pick by sample photos.
5,150mAh vs 4,300mAh — the Phone (3) lasts longer between charges.
The Galaxy S26 is supported until Mar 2033 — 8 months longer than the Phone (3).
Overall value goes to the Galaxy S26 at $10.06 per month of safe use.
Frequently asked
How long will the Nothing Phone (3) get updates?
Nothing promises five Android OS upgrades and seven years of security updates from the July 2025 launch, so it's patched until July 2032 — a security window on par with Samsung's Galaxy S and Google's Pixel lines, and longer than the OnePlus 13.
Nothing Phone (3) vs Galaxy S25 or OnePlus 13?
The S25 and OnePlus 13 give you a faster flagship chip for similar money, so on raw specs they win. The Phone (3) counters with a genuinely unique design, the Glyph Matrix, and a seven-year security promise that matches the S25. It comes down to whether character or peak performance matters more to you.
How long will the Samsung Galaxy S26 get updates?
Until March 2033. Samsung promises seven generations of Android OS upgrades and seven years of security updates for the Galaxy S26 series, counted from its March 11, 2026 release. It launched on Android 16 and should reach Android 23.
Is the Galaxy S26 worth buying in 2026?
If you're buying for the long haul, yes — at the ~$799 street price you're paying roughly $10 per month across its 81 remaining months of support, and nothing in Samsung's lineup stays supported longer. If you mostly want the hardware, a discounted S25 is the smarter value.
Full spec table
| Spec | Phone (3) | Galaxy S26 |
|---|---|---|
| Price (street) | $799 | $799 |
| Display | 6.67-inch LTPS AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 960Hz PWM dimming | 6.3-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, FHD+, 1–120Hz, up to 2600 nits |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| RAM | 12GB/16GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB | 256GB/512GB |
| Battery | 5,150 mAh | 4,300 mAh |
| Charging | 65W wired, 15W wireless | 25W wired, 15W wireless (Qi2.2 Ready) |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 50MP periscope 3x | 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto 3x |
| Dimensions | 160.6 × 75.6 × 9.0 mm | 149.6 × 71.7 × 7.2 mm |
| Weight | 218 g | 167 g |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Supported until | Jul 2032 | Mar 2033 |
More comparisons
Scores and verdicts are computed from our verified database — see exactly how. Specs from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers.