Phone vs phone
Magic 8 Pro vs Galaxy S26 Ultra
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 S26 Ultra — its best deal costs £915.80 including April rises, £16.16 less than the Magic 8 Pro.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: Magic 8 Pro 6.71″, Galaxy S26 Ultra 6.9″. Battery: Magic 8 Pro 6,270 mAh, Galaxy S26 Ultra 5,000 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
Magic 8 Pro: £1,143 SIM-free plus SIM only. Galaxy S26 Ultra: £1,273. Compare with the contract totals above.
Magic 8 Pro£931.96
Galaxy S26 Ultra£915.80True total of the cheapest deal, April rises included
Live from retailers, rises estimated for a contract starting this month.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the cheaper of the two today: its best contract costs £915.80 over 24 months with April rises, against £931.96 for the Magic 8 Pro — a gap of £16.16, or about £0.67 a month.
Prices checked 28 October 2026 · How we compare
Magic 8 Pro vs Galaxy S26 Ultra, side by side
| Magic 8 Pro | Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £931.96 | £915.80 |
| Cheapest network | iD Mobile | Talkmobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £169 | £629 |
| Monthly on that deal | £29.99 | £11.95 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £29.99 | £11.95 |
| SIM-free price from | £999 | £1,129 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £1,143 | £1,273 |
| Contract deals tracked | 93 | 5,301 |
| Screen | 6.71 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Battery | 6,270 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Storage | 512GB | 256GB |
| Weight | 219 g | 214 g |
| Released | January 2026 | February 2026 |
| Colours on sale | 2 | 4 |
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 | Magic 8 Pro | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| iD Mobile | £931.96 | £982.96 | £51 |
| Vodafone | £1,003 | £1,057 | £54 |
Our verdict
On price, the Galaxy S26 Ultra wins: £16.16 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is under £2 a month, so pick on features rather than price.
On the spec sheet, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has the bigger screen (6.9 vs 6.71 inches), the Magic 8 Pro has the larger battery (6,270 mAh), the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the newer phone (February 2026).
Buying outright: Magic 8 Pro SIM-free plus SIM only costs £1,143, more than its cheapest contract; the Galaxy S26 Ultra costs £1,273, more than its contract.
Pick the Magic 8 Pro if…
- You want to pay less on the day — from £0 upfront vs £379
- Battery size matters most to you
Pick the Galaxy S26 Ultra if…
- You want the lowest monthly price — from £11.95 a month vs £29.99
- You want the lower total — £16.16 less over 24 months
- You want the bigger screen
- You prefer a lighter phone
- You want the newer model with longer support ahead
FAQ
Magic 8 Pro vs Galaxy S26 Ultra questions
Which is cheaper, the Magic 8 Pro or the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra. Its cheapest contract costs £915.80 over 24 months including April rises, £16.16 less than the Magic 8 Pro (£931.96).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the Magic 8 Pro it is iD Mobile (£169 upfront, £29.99 a month); for the Galaxy S26 Ultra it is Talkmobile (£629 upfront, £11.95 a month).
Is the Magic 8 Pro bigger than the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Magic 8 Pro has a 6.71-inch screen and the Galaxy S26 Ultra a 6.9-inch screen; they weigh 219 g and 214 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the Magic 8 Pro starts at £999 and the Galaxy S26 Ultra at £1,129, from retailers we track.