Last updated: March 27th, 2026 at 17:23 UTC+01:00
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Being able to explain the phenomenon doesn’t make it feel any less bad.
Reading time: 3 minutes
Max Jambor / SamMobile
Speaking strictly as a Galaxy S Plus fan, Unpacked 2026 may have been one of Samsung’s least exciting moments in recent years. The new Galaxy S26+ is barely an upgrade over my S24+, let alone the S25+.
As a matter of fact, I got more enjoyment from the recent Galaxy A57 launch than Unpacked 2026. And I'm not even sure if that's because the S26+ felt that underwhelming or the A57 is a genuinely strong sequel to its own lineup. It's probably both.
Regardless, it's becoming clear that the Galaxy A5x series has evolved faster in the last two years than my favorite line of phones — the Galaxy S Plus. And while I am happy for A-series fans, I can’t help feeling frustrated or at least disappointed by the S Plus' recent trajectory, or lack thereof.
As an S24+ user, all I wanted from the S26+ was a better screen, full Qi2.2 support with built-in magnets, and a refreshed camera housing. And all I got was the latter.
Meanwhile, compared to the A55 from 2024, the new Galaxy A57 offers a refreshed design, a brighter and slightly larger screen, thinner bezels, faster charging, more storage options, better firmware support, a higher IP rating than the A55 from 2024, and several other improvements.
Granted, you could argue the S Plus series peaked a couple of years ago while the A5x was neglected for a while and had more catching up to do. And I think you'd be right, at least to some degree. The A5x series did get a lot more serious last year.
Nevertheless, as sound as that line of thinking is, I just can't shake the feeling that something's not right. Harsh as it may be, all I can say is that the Galaxy A57 managed to get me more pumped than the S26+.
And just to be clear, I'm not stating that the Galaxy A57 is objectively a better phone than the Galaxy S26+. It isn't, and the S26+ still rightfully holds the flagship status. But as far as how the lineups evolved over the last two years goes, I personally found the A57 to be a far more exciting sequel.
In the end, I can only hope that Samsung will address this by bringing some excitement back to the S Plus instead of taking something away from future A5x models.
Mihai is a blogger and column writer at SamMobile. His first Samsung phone was an A800 which took a lot of beating, and a part of him still misses the novelty of the clamshell design. In his free time, he enjoys watching shows, documentaries, and stand-up comedy; listening to music, taking walks, and occasionally playing old(er) video games.
