Phone vs phone
Galaxy S26 vs Galaxy S25
Same question, two phones: which costs less over a 24-month contract, which is cheaper to buy outright, and what you actually get for the difference.
bemobiles tips
Which is cheaper over 24 months?
Galaxy S25 — its best deal costs £581.80 including April rises, £144 less than the Galaxy S26.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: Galaxy S26 6.3″, Galaxy S25 6.2″. Battery: Galaxy S26 4,300 mAh, Galaxy S25 4,000 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
Galaxy S26: £853 SIM-free plus SIM only. Galaxy S25: £743. Compare with the contract totals above.
Galaxy S26£725.80
Galaxy S25£581.80True total of the cheapest deal, April rises included
Live from retailers, rises estimated for a contract starting this month.
The Galaxy S25 is the cheaper of the two today: its best contract costs £581.80 over 24 months with April rises, against £725.80 for the Galaxy S26 — a gap of £144, or about £6 a month.
Prices checked 28 October 2026 · How we compare
Galaxy S26 vs Galaxy S25, side by side
| Galaxy S26 | Galaxy S25 | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £725.80 | £581.80 |
| Cheapest network | Talkmobile | Talkmobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £439 | £295 |
| Monthly on that deal | £11.95 | £11.95 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £11.95 | £11.95 |
| SIM-free price from | £709 | £599 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £853 | £743 |
| Contract deals tracked | 3,401 | 957 |
| Screen | 6.3 inches | 6.2 inches |
| Battery | 4,300 mAh | 4,000 mAh |
| Storage | 256GB | 128GB |
| Weight | 167 g | 162 g |
| Released | February 2026 | January 2025 |
| Colours on sale | 4 | 3 |
Highlighted = better on that line. Prices live from retailers; specifications from our data partner’s catalogue.
Network by network
If you already know which network you want, here is the cheapest deal for each phone on it, April rises included.
| Network | Galaxy S26 | Galaxy S25 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talkmobile | £725.80 | £581.80 | £144 |
| iD Mobile | £746.96 | £661.96 | £85 |
| O2 | £835 | £647 | £188 |
| Vodafone | £861 | £731 | £130 |
| Three | £864.20 | £710.20 | £154 |
Our verdict
On price, the Galaxy S25 wins: £144 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is £6 a month — enough to matter unless the Galaxy S26 does something you need.
On the spec sheet, the Galaxy S26 has the bigger screen (6.3 vs 6.2 inches), the Galaxy S26 has the larger battery (4,300 mAh), the Galaxy S26 is the newer phone (February 2026).
Buying outright: Galaxy S26 SIM-free plus SIM only costs £853, more than its cheapest contract; the Galaxy S25 costs £743, more than its contract.
Pick the Galaxy S26 if…
- You want to pay less on the day — from £9 upfront vs £39
- You want the bigger screen
- Battery size matters most to you
- You want the newer model with longer support ahead
Pick the Galaxy S25 if…
- You want the lower total — £144 less over 24 months
- You prefer a lighter phone
FAQ
Galaxy S26 vs Galaxy S25 questions
Which is cheaper, the Galaxy S26 or the Galaxy S25?
The Galaxy S25. Its cheapest contract costs £581.80 over 24 months including April rises, £144 less than the Galaxy S26 (£725.80).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the Galaxy S26 it is Talkmobile (£439 upfront, £11.95 a month); for the Galaxy S25 it is Talkmobile (£295 upfront, £11.95 a month).
Is the Galaxy S26 bigger than the Galaxy S25?
The Galaxy S26 has a 6.3-inch screen and the Galaxy S25 a 6.2-inch screen; they weigh 167 g and 162 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the Galaxy S26 starts at £709 and the Galaxy S25 at £599, from retailers we track.