Samsung UK's phone store splits the Galaxy range into three families: the Galaxy A series for everyday budgets, the Galaxy S series of flagships and the folding Galaxy Z series. The names move on every year, so the Galaxy A16 and S25 that many people search for have been followed by the A17 5G and the S26. This guide compares the current models as Samsung's own UK product, spec and support pages describe them: screens, chips, cameras, software support, Galaxy AI, water resistance, charging and eSIM.
For most people the Galaxy A57 5G is the pick: Samsung lists a 120 Hz screen, IP68, eSIM, 45 W charging and up to six OS upgrades. The Galaxy A17 5G is the budget choice if a nano-SIM and microSD slot suit you. Choose the Galaxy S26 for a compact flagship, the S26 Ultra for the S Pen, Privacy Display and 60 W charging, or the Z Flip8 for a phone that folds in half.
Key Takeaways
- Samsung UK groups its phones into three families: the Galaxy A series from the A17 to the A57 5G, the Galaxy S26 series plus the S26 FE, and the folding Z Flip8, Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra.
- Samsung's UK spec sheets give each model a security update end date: 31 August 2031 for the Galaxy A17 5G, 31 March 2032 for the A57 5G and 28 February 2033 for the S26 series.
- Samsung's UK pages list IP68 for the Galaxy A37 5G, A57 5G and S26 series, IP54 for the A17 5G and IP48 for the Z Flip8, Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra.
- Samsung's pages list no charger in the box for the S26, S26 Ultra, A37 5G or A57 5G, and its support page says Super Fast Charging needs a USB PD PPS charger.
- Samsung's UK spec sheets list eSIM on the Galaxy A37 5G, A57 5G, S26 series and Z foldables, but nano-SIM cards only, with no eSIM, on the Galaxy A17 5G and A27 5G.
Samsung UK Groups Its Phones Into Galaxy A, S and Z
Samsung UK's smartphone store sorts its range into three families. The Galaxy A series covers everyday budgets, with the Galaxy A17, A17 5G, A18, A27 5G, A37 5G and A57 5G listed. The Galaxy S series holds the flagships: the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra, plus the S26 FE and the older S25 FE. The Galaxy Z series is the folding range, led by the Z Flip8, Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra.
Popular older names have moved on. Samsung's UK launch release for the Galaxy A17 5G says it builds on the Galaxy A16 series. Samsung's support page comparing the S26 and S25 series lists a 6.3-inch screen and a 4,300 mAh battery on the S26, against 6.2 inches and 4,000 mAh on the S25, and 60 W wired charging on the S26 Ultra against 45 W on the S25 Ultra.
Coming from an iPhone, Samsung's S26 FAQ says Smart Switch moves contacts, photos, videos, notes and calendar events across. The iPhone guide covers Apple's side of the choice.
Galaxy A Phones Differ Most in Screen, Camera and Water Resistance
From the A17 5G to the A57 5G, Samsung's UK spec sheets list a 6.7-inch screen and a 5,000 mAh battery on every model, so the differences sit elsewhere. The Galaxy A17 5G has a 90 Hz Super AMOLED screen, a 50 MP main camera with optical image stabilisation and a microSD slot for cards up to 2 TB. Samsung's UK launch release names its chip as the Exynos 1330. The product page lists IP54 splash protection, although a footnote in that release says IP45, so Samsung's own figures disagree.
The A27 5G, A37 5G and A57 5G move up to 120 Hz screens, and Samsung's A27 page names a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip and IP64 protection. The A37 5G and A57 5G carry IP68, which Samsung says means the phone can withstand water and dust. The A57 adds a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, against 8 MP on the A37 and 5 MP on the A17 5G, plus a 6.9 mm body and Wi-Fi 6E. Neither the A37 nor the A57 spec sheet lists a memory card slot.
The Galaxy S26 Series Adds Faster Chips, Better Cameras and IP68
Samsung's spec pages list the Galaxy S26 with a 6.3-inch FHD+ screen and a 4,300 mAh battery, and the S26+ with a 6.7-inch QHD+ screen and 4,900 mAh. Both use Samsung's Exynos 2600 chip, a 50 MP main camera and a 10 MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. Samsung's FAQ says the two are similar in features, design and performance, with the S26+ adding the bigger display and battery.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra changes more. Samsung lists a 6.9-inch QHD+ screen, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, a 200 MP main camera, 3x and 5x optical zoom and a 5,000 mAh battery. It is the only S26 with a built-in S Pen and Privacy Display, which Samsung says keeps the screen visible straight on but dimmed to people viewing from the side.
All three carry IP68, which Samsung's footnote defines as up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. The S26 FE sits below them, with an Exynos 2500 chip, a 6.7-inch FHD+ screen and IP68.
Galaxy Z Foldables Trade Some Water Resistance for a Folding Screen
Samsung's Galaxy Z range folds in two ways. The Galaxy Z Flip8 folds top to bottom: Samsung lists a 6.9-inch main screen, a 4.1-inch FlexWindow cover screen, an Exynos 2600 chip, 50 MP and 12 MP rear cameras and a 4,300 mAh battery, at 180 g. The Galaxy Z Fold8 opens like a book to a 7.6-inch main screen with a 5.5-inch cover screen. The Z Fold8 Ultra opens to 8 inches, with a 6.5-inch cover screen and a 200 MP main camera. Samsung's FAQs name the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy in both Fold models.
Water and dust are the honest caveat. Samsung's Flip8, Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra pages all give an IP48 rating, described as water resistance against accidental spills and everyday mishaps, where the S26 series carries IP68. The Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra FAQs also say neither supports the S Pen. Charging is slower too: Samsung's spec sheets list a 25 W maximum for the Z Flip8 and 45 W for both Fold models.
Samsung Gives Every Model a Security Update End Date
Samsung states software support in two ways: a count of Android OS upgrades on each product page, and a Security Update Period (Valid until) date on each UK spec sheet. The date is the easier one to compare.
The Galaxy A17 5G page promises six OS upgrades and six years of security support, and its spec sheet runs to 31 August 2031. The A37 5G and A57 5G pages promise up to six OS upgrades and six years of security updates, ending 31 March 2032. For the S26 series, Samsung's UK launch release promises seven years of security updates, and the spec sheets give 28 February 2033.
Newer models run later. The S26 FE page promises seven Android OS upgrades and up to seven years of security patches, ending 30 September 2033. The Z Flip8, Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra pages offer up to seven OS upgrades, with security support to 31 July 2033. Samsung's foldable pages add that the timing of upgrades may vary by market, network provider and model.
Galaxy AI Features Depend on the Model
Samsung's Galaxy AI page says Galaxy AI is supported on smartphones from the S24 series onward, that features vary by region and model, and that the basic features are free, though future releases may include paid ones.
On the S26 series, Samsung's FAQ lists Photo Assist for editing photos with written prompts, Now Nudge for on-screen suggestions, Now Brief for personalised reminders and a Bixby that understands natural questions. The Z Flip8 page lists Photo Assist and Now Brief, and the Z Fold8 page lists Photo Assist and Now Nudge.
The Galaxy A pages mostly use another label, Awesome Intelligence. The A57 5G lists Circle to Search, Voice transcription, Object Eraser, Edit suggestion, Filters, Auto Trim and Best Face. Samsung contradicts itself on the A37 5G, whose page calls Object Eraser and Edit suggestion Galaxy AI features. The A17 5G page lists Circle to Search, Gemini Live and a dedicated Gemini key.
Samsung's S26 FAQ adds that Galaxy phones pair with Galaxy Buds, a Galaxy Watch and a Galaxy Tab to share files and copy and paste.
Chargers Are Sold Separately and eSIM Depends on the Model
Samsung's FAQs say the S26 and S26 Ultra come with a cable and SIM ejection pin but no charger, and the A37 5G and A57 5G box lists the same plus a quick start guide. Samsung's UK launch release quotes up to 55% in around 30 minutes for the S26 with a 25 W adapter, 69% for the S26+ with 45 W and 75% for the S26 Ultra with 60 W. Samsung's support page says Super Fast Charging needs a USB PD PPS charger, not just a high wattage; the USB-C charger guide explains both. The S26 series supports wireless charging, which the Galaxy A pages do not mention, and the wireless charger guide covers pads.
For eSIM, the A57 5G and S26 spec sheets list two nano-SIMs, a nano-SIM plus eSIM, or two eSIMs, and the foldables one nano-SIM plus eSIM or two eSIMs. The A17 5G and A27 5G list nano-SIM cards only. Samsung's eSIM page warns that support can depend on the country of origin, so every phone in the table is a UK model.
| Product | Best for | Key specs | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Samsung Galaxy A57 5G, 256GB, Awesome Grey Our pick | IP68 and eSIM without flagship spending | 6.7-inch 120 Hz screen, IP68, eSIM, 45 W charging | Check price → |
 | Samsung Galaxy A17 5G, 128GB, Grey Budget | Everyday use on a tight budget, with microSD | 6.7-inch 90 Hz screen, 5,000 mAh, IP54, microSD slot | Check price → |
 | Samsung Galaxy S26, 512GB, Black Compact flagship | A smaller flagship with a 3x telephoto camera | 6.3-inch FHD+ screen, Exynos 2600, 4,300 mAh, IP68 | Check price → |
 | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, 256GB, White S Pen | Notes with the S Pen, long zoom and 60 W charging | 6.9-inch QHD+, built-in S Pen, 200 MP camera, IP68 | Check price → |
 | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8, 256GB, Graphite Foldable | A phone that folds small for pockets and bags | 6.9-inch main screen, 4.1-inch cover screen, IP48 | Check price → |