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Fanxiang PS2000W: 30-second review

Fanxiang is a Chinese storage brand, most commonly known as Shenzhen Fanxiang Information Technology. The company grew out of a team with a decade of prior experience in storage design, firmware, and product sales, and they've built their range around four main product lines: solid-state drives, mobile storage, memory modules, and storage cards.

It’s been making external SSD storage for about five years, with a wide range of devices and specifications.

The PS2000W appeared in 2025, and delivers capacities from 500Mb to 4TB in a slim aluminium case. It comes with a soft carry pouch and a cable that has an integrated adapter for both USB-A and USB-C connections.

The quoted performance is 2000MB/s reads, and 1800MB/s writes, but that assumes you have a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port, and that’s not a common standard.

More realistically, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port will achieve a little over 1000 MB/s reads, and 950 MB/s writes with either a USB-C or USB-A connection.

For those wanting faster transfers, you either need a system with the rare USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port, or choose a different drive that supports the USB4 standard, like the Fanxiang PS3000 portable SSD.

However, that option costs $350 for the 1TB model, which is substantially more than the $150 the PS2000W is typically priced at for that capacity.

The problem the PS2000W doesn’t address is that this drive is double the price it was only eight months ago, and unless you have a system that can make the most of its enhanced performance, there are cheaper alternatives. In fact, if you have a spare NVMe drive, then buying an external enclosure for USB4 is probably a better choice.

Not the best portable SSD, or the worst, but sadly impacted by the outrageous cost of flash memory in 2026.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Fanxiang PS2000W: Pricing and availability

• How much does it cost? Starts from $90
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Sold through online retailers and also directly from Fanxiang.

The Fanxiang PS2000W portable SSD comes in capacities starting at 500 GB, doubling each step to include 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB drives.

Directly from the maker, these are priced at $112.99, $203.99, $379.99 and $495.99 for the largest capacity. That pricing makes the 4TB the best value, and the 500MB the worst.

But the maker prices aren’t especially good, and I was able to find it much cheaper on Amazon. On Amazon.com in the US, the 500MB model is only $89.99, the 1TB model is $149.99, and the 4TB model is $419.99. There wasn’t a price for the 2TB version.

UK pricing via Amazon.co.uk is £64.60, £119.99, £169.99, and £319.99, and Amazon EU sites are €94.99, €139.99, €229.99, and €379.99, respectively.

For those curious, the UK is the cheapest place to buy this hardware, followed by the EU, and the most expensive is the USA.

While officially Crucial has exited the retail market, its equivalent product, the X10, is still available from many retailers. At $207 for the 1TB option, and $299.99 for the 2TB option, the X10 is slightly more expensive. But it is rated as water-resistant, and while there isn’t a 500GB model, there are 6TB and 8TB options.

A cheaper option with the same spec is the PNY RP60, but the 1TB model is still $10 more than the PS2000W.

But many of the familiar brands are more expensive, such as the SanDisk Extreme Pro V2, Samsung T9, Kingston XS2000 and LaCie Rugged Mini. Western Digital has its My Passport SSD, but it’s the same price as the PS2000W, but only offers half the performance.

Those looking for a cheaper option should consider the $82 Orico S20 with 512GB storage.

It’s tempting to look at the pricing of the PS2000W and see it as a good deal, when it’s far from that.

Price tracking the 1TB model: it was $149.99 at the time of writing; it was $75.99 in November of 2025. That’s nearly a 100% markup.

Now, I should say that Fanxiang doesn’t control the price of Flash memory, which has spiked since AI companies and speculators decided to buy all of it. But in good conscience, I can’t recommend people spend this sort of money on devices that cost half as much a year ago.

• Value: 3 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Fanxiang PS2000W: Specs

Model

Fanxiang PS2000W

Interface

USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20Gbps)

Sequential read

Up to 2050MB/s

Sequential write

Up to 1800MB/s

Flash type

TLC 3D NAND

Capacities

500GB, 1TB, 2TB

Dimensions

8.5cm x 5cm x 0.8cm

Weight

Approximately 45g

Build

Aluminium alloy unibody

Cables included

USB Type C to C, plus Type C to A adapter

Compatibility

Windows, Mac, Android, PS5/PS4, iPhone 15 and later via USB-C

Warranty

5 years

Fanxiang PS2000W: Design

• Aluminium enclosure
• Dual USB standards cable

Some brands, and you know the names, will try to make their external SSDs and HDDs as cheaply as possible, typically by using mostly plastic construction.

Thankfully, Fanxiang didn’t go down that path with the PS2000W, and this device appears to be entirely made of metal. And, based on its relatively low weight, it uses aluminium.

The package is a simple lozenge shape with curved sides and flattened ends, measuring 85mm long by 50mm wide and less than a centimetre thick.

Out of the box, it comes with a 30cm USB-C to USB-C cable that has a USB-A adapter permanently attached. The drive and cable fit neatly into a soft drawstring bag, also provided, making for a neat and easily pocketable solution.

The review model was a 2TB capacity drive, which translated into 1863GiB of usable space, and it connects to the host device using USAP (Serial ATA).

To achieve the best performance, it requires a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port, but the drive is backwards compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2, Gen 1, and even USB 2.0. However, as you move down the USB interface pecking order, the expected speed decreases.

As for features, this drive is basic. It supports S.M.A.R.T. NCQ, TRIM and GPL, but it doesn’t offer hardware encryption like on the Kingston XS2000 or the Crucial X10 Pro.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

There are also no software tools included, though you can download a utility for SSD management from the Fanxiang website. I didn’t notice any means to update the installed firmware, or any firmware releases.

To be blunt, this is a basic USB SSD with a Gen 2x2 interface, but otherwise it’s unremarkable. And therefore, if you don’t have that interface, there appears to be no compelling reason why you would choose this one over another brand.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Design: 3.5 / 5

Fanxiang PS2000W: Performance

• Needs USB 3.2 Gen 2x2
• Performs within quoted specification

Fanxiang PS2000W Benchmark

Bench

Test

USB 3.2 Gen 2x2

USB 3.2 Gen 2

CrystalDiskMark 9.03

Default Read

2002MB/s

1041MB/s

Default Write

1853MB/s

948MB/S

Real World Read

1336MB/s

993MB/s

Real World Write

1219MB/s

912MB/s

AJA System Test 64GB

Read

1804MB/s

971MB/s

Write

1645MB/s

891MB/s

AS SSD

Read

1771MB/s

971MB/s

Write

1496MB/s

879MB/s

ATTO

Read

1.89GB/s

994MB/s

Write

1.73GB/s

906MB/s

PCMark Data Drive Bench

Score

2028

1250

Let’s be brutally honest: USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 was a dead standard walking from its inception, and USB4 didn’t really include it in its repertoire of supported prior standards. There are a few exceptions, but in general, if you don’t actually have a port to the 2x2 standard, then you won’t see the true performance that this drive can muster.

For that reason, I’ve presented the performance via a Gen 2x2 port and a much more common Gen 2 variety. How does it compare with the best Gen 2x2 drives?

Well, read speed is below the Crucial X10 Pro, ADATA Elite SE880 and LaCie Rugged Mini SSD, but write speed is close to what all those achieve.

Given the different controllers and implementations of Gen 2x2 interfaces, the Fanxiang PS2000W portable SSD doesn’t have a compelling reason to be chosen over any other drive in Gen 2x2 mode, but it can get close to the maximum realistic speed for this interface.

But if speed is the prerequisite, then a USB4 or Thunderbolt external drive, like the Corsair EX400U or the SanDisk Extreme PRO with USB4, would be a better choice if you have a USB4 port. These drives can hit read speeds of 3800MB/s or higher, and 3650MB/s writes.

And, if I were rushing to catch a plane or train, and needed to transfer files, I know which I’d prefer.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Fanxiang PS2000W: Final verdict

If the Fanxiang PS2000W portable SSD had appeared during the golden age of Gen 2x2, when the Kingston XS2000 appeared back in early 2022, and at a reasonable price, then it might have been something I’d recommend.

And the fine irony of that comparison is that the price of the PS2000W is almost exactly the same as the XS2000's MSRP was nearly four years ago. And the Kingston device supported hardware encryption, where the Fanxiang does not.

To be clear, the construction quality and performance of the PS2000W are absolutely fine, but what isn’t is the amount of money being asked for.

If money isn’t an issue for you, I’d buy the Crucial X10 Pro before they’re extinct, as it has hardware encryption. Or I’d consider a USB4-capable drive, like the Corsair EX400U, if you have a port that supports that specification.

Should I buy the Fanxiang PS2000W?

Value

100% more expensive than it was 8 months ago

3 / 5

Design

Metal construction, comes with a carry pouch and a dual standard cable

3.5 / 5

Performance

Works well at Gen 2x2 speeds, if you have that port

4 / 5

Overall

A nice drive, but hardly great value

3.5 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Buy it if...

You have USB 3.2 Gen 2x2
If you have a USB port that is Gen 2x2 (not just Gen 2), then this might be the drive you want to exploit the extra speed that it offers. However, unless all the ports you are likely to plug it into are this spec, the advantage will be limited.

Money isn’t a concern
Buying RAM, storage or GPUs is currently only for those people not paying with their own money. Since, depending on what you are buying, the price hikes range from 100% up to 400% and higher, if you can wait for the AI bubble to burst, you could save yourself, or your business, lots of money.

Don't buy it if...

You have USB 4.0
If you have USB4 or Thunderbolt 4, then this isn’t the drive for you, at whatever price. There are USB4-specified drives that are twice the speed of this one, and most of them only cost a little more.

You need bigger than 4TB
The largest drive available in this range is 4TB. And those wanting 8TB or more need to look for a different product entirely.

Also consider

Nextorage NX-PS1PRO Series
One of the first USB 4.0 capable external SSDs available, the Nextorage NX-PS1PRO Series comes in 1TB, 2TB or 4TB capacities.

Read our full Nextorage NX-PS1PRO Series review

OWC Envoy Pro FX
If you have Thunderbolt 3 ports or intend to add this functionality soon, then the Envoy Pro FX might well be worth your time. A beautifully engineered external storage option that can provide exceptional performance in the right circumstances, the OWC Envoy Pro FX is effective if expensive.

Read our full OWC Envoy Pro FX review

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Whether you like it depends on how you feel about earth tones.

BenQ has been one of my favorite monitor brands for quite a while now. The build quality is spectacular, the built-in features are wonderful, and their companion software makes it feel like a first-party device for Apple products, which is a huge win for me as an Apple product lover.

When it comes to creative hardware, those working in the industry need the best of the best. They crave color accuracy. A lot of them crave fun features as well, but above all they crave the ability to reduce friction in their day-to-day work.

Specifically, when it comes to monitors, color accuracy and calibration matter more than most people realize. If you're in this space, you're very familiar with how to calibrate your monitor. BenQ decided to answer that not just with its own hardware, but by building its own hardware. The company built a color calibrator into its monitors that are designed for those who need the color calibrator. BenQ didn't just do it in a way that would work, but did it in a way that's elegant and very BenQ-esque.

The monitor has a color calibrator arm that swivels down from the monitor and then pushes itself back up as well, hiding away when you're not using it but popping out when you need to calibrate further. It has a light shade or a hood, depending on the industry that you're in, that helps make sure there's no glare or reflections or anything that can manipulate the colors, producing an even more true-to-spec experience. So, for those looking for the best video editing monitor or best photo editing monitor, this one is excellent in my experience.

BenQ PD2770U: Price and availability

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Right now, this monitor sells for around $1,700, and that comes with the hood and the built-in color calibrator. BenQ is also really good about sending cables that you need in the box, so don't worry about that.

If you buy this monitor, you can literally just plug it straight into your computer of choice without needing any extra accessories. It's widely available, and you can pick this up from BenQ's website, Amazon, and other retailers.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )BenQ PD2770U: Unboxing and First Impressions

As expected with BenQ monitors, the packaging is simple yet well-done. It's no Apple unboxing experience, but it is one that is predictable and expected. On first unboxing, I was a little confused about how the shield could be folded up so tightly, but then I realized how intricately they've tucked it into the box to keep it safe and protected.

Other than that, I was able to set up the monitor fairly quickly. I tried it first with the built-in stand and then quickly added it to a monitor arm that I had to try out some testing. Once I finished initial rounds of testing, I moved this to somebody on my team who does a lot of video editing, and now he has been using it on his desk for the last 100 days.

I've tested this monitor in low-light scenarios and in high-light scenarios with fluorescent lights directly above the desk. Thanks to the shader, this monitor has performed brilliantly and brighter, but the shader makes it so that even this dimmer color is still spectacular and vibrant.

BenQ PD2770U: Design & Build Quality

This brand came out very much like all the others, to where it is professional and simple. It's got a basic stand if you choose to use it. It's got great cable management and simple height adjustments.

What's great is that even if you choose to not use the stand, the hood attachment magnetically connects directly to the monitor itself, meaning that you can use this with any monitor arm or monitor stand that you so choose.

Also, since it is magnetic, if you're the kind of person that works in a light-controlled room or maybe a dimmer room (like a personal home office), you can customize the lighting. Perhaps you won't need the shade. If you work in a coworking space or an area where you cannot control the lighting as much, that's where the shade comes in clutch.

Last but not least, having the USB-C hub built in makes this a monitor and a hub all in one. If you don't have a ton of ports and perhaps you're just running a more simple setup where you have a desktop or laptop plugged directly into this monitor and that's about it, then you can run all of that.

You can have plenty of room to wiggle directly from the monitor itself without needing a docking station. Even if you had a couple accessories from a laptop, you can plug those in if you wanted to.

BenQ PD2770U: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

As I previously mentioned up above, my team and I have had this 4K monitor in our arsenal for over 100 days. It's actually even closer to 150 at this point. I wanted to make sure that we could get some good long-term testing with this panel before giving results.

In that 100 days, my team and I have put this monitor through the tests. We've edited countless videos on it, done multiple big photo projects, done administrative tasks, and used it for managing content and so much more. While it is phenomenal, all those things, it is 100% overkill for anything other than photo or video editing where you need color accuracy.

Currently, this monitor is set up in a coworking area that has some pretty aggressive fluorescent lighting right above the desk. For our scenario, having the shader has been an absolute game changer, as it helps keep any glare off of the monitor, changing and destroying the color and visual sighting.

Plus, having the color calibrator built in is not only a fun element but an absolute game changer if you need to confirm and double-check calibration throughout your projects.

BenQ PD2770U: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

I've been using this monitor mostly for creative products, but of course had to test and see how it would work for basic administrative tasks. As expected, I can reassure you that if you are using this monitor for business or productivity or administrative tasks, you are dead wrong.

This is not meant for that at all. It's overkill in price, feature set, and physical operation. However, if you are in that creative space and you want something that is more consistent than what you ever had before, then you should absolutely check out the BenQ Creative Pro PD2770U monitor.

To make a long story short, if you are in the creative space and you need color accuracy above all else, or if you find yourself reaching for or even wishing for a color calibrator regularly, then this is absolutely your monitor.

If you are just looking for a 27-inch 4K monitor, this is 100% overkill, but it will do the job in a better and fancier way than you probably need. If image quality, screen resolution, and picture clarity are a part of your workflow, consider this one. If not, check out some of our other spectacular monitors.

Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future

For more top-performers, we've tested the best business monitors and the best monitors for Mac mini.

The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 is exactly what you expect to see if a ThinkPad got Botox. This computer is a professional workstation with the familiar soul of a ThinkPad business laptop, just in a sleek, facelifted chassis.

Everything about the P14s is geared toward getting work done without compromising looks or quality-of-life features that have been overlooked in the past when other workhorse laptops hit the market.

It combines serious hardware with a compact design without sacrificing the physical qualities that make a work laptop enjoyable to use. Given the size, In my experience it's one of the best laptops for engineering students looking for a more portable powerhouse, or professionals working across multiple locations.

Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6: Price and availability

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The P16s Gen 3 is available in a range of configurations, with both AMD and Intel chips. You can grab the AMD version and the Intel version from Lenovo US. That's the same for Lenovo UK with AMD models and Intel models.

I'm testing the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6, Model 21QT0029US to be exact. It has an Intel Core Ultra 7 265H processor, an Nvidia RTX Pro 500 Blackwell GPU with 6 GB of GDDR7 memory, 32 GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1 TB NVMe SSD. It also includes Windows 11 Pro and Intel vPro support, which fits Lenovo’s stellar reputation for business security and management.

This ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 has 32 GB RAM, while leaving the second slot unused. For this laptop, Lenovo supports up to 96 GB, giving the device room to grow for larger projects. There is also only one internal M.2 storage slot, though, so if you increase storage, you must replace the existing drive.

Our exact testing model and configuration can be found for about $2,700, but with Lenovo’s frequent promotions you can also find a similar P14s configuration closer to the mid-$2,000 range. That number makes more sense when the laptop is compared with other professional mobile workstations.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6: Unboxing and First Impressions

Physically, the ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 is fantastic. Its aluminum top and bottom give the chassis a sturdy feel with very little flex or anything else that makes it seem fragile.

Lenovo also puts the system through MIL-STD-810H testing, which is a standard used by the DOD for drops/shocks, extreme temperatures/humidity, dust, and high altitude. So, TL;DR—this thing is solid.

Its construction feels quite fitting for a computer you’d expect to travel with, to and from work every day. The design itself is unmistakably ThinkPad as well. Which is a pro and a con depending on how unique you want to be in your laptop.

It features an all-black, professional-looking frame with subtle Lenovo branding and the familiar red TrackPoint on the keyboard. If you want to stand out and make it your own, slap a sticker on there, but if you want to look professional and crisp, then you'll fit right in with yet another ThinkPad that looks exactly like the rest.

Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6: Design & Build Quality

The keyboard is the undisputed favorite part of the laptop across our entire team. The shape and texture of the keys feel excellent, and each press is incredibly responsive, tactile, and honestly satisfying. Typing for long periods never makes my hand feel tired or makes me want to switch to a different keyboard for a break.

In fact, this whole article is typed on the P14s, that’s how much I enjoy its keyboard. I have several people who help me test laptops to ensure I am not just using my own personal bias in my reviews, and we all unanimously agree that the ThinkPad keyboards are spectacular, and the P14s Gen 6 is no exception.

The backlighting of the keyboard is also convenient, with brightness control using the Fn key and spacebar that offers a few different lighting/brightness options. The TrackPoint, along with its corresponding buttons, works as you’d expect too. With so many laptops moving to have this be software-driven, it is nice to see some business devices still have these elements built into key commands that have been around for quite some time.

The fingerprint reader is built into the power button, works quickly, and was much more dependable for us than facial recognition. The 5 MP infrared camera is acceptable for video calls, but we ran into issues when strong backlighting was present, mainly with facial recognition when trying to unlock the device.

The 14.5-inch display on this configuration has a 2560 × 1600 resolution at a 16:10 aspect ratio, a 90 Hz refresh rate, and a rated brightness of 400 nits. It covers 100% of the sRGB color space and is X-Rite factory-calibrated. In person, the screen is beautiful: the text looks sharp, colors have plenty of vibrance, and the taller 16:10 aspect ratio gives you extra vertical space for any project, document, or webpage.

The 90 Hz refresh does a good enough job to keep up with pretty much all on-screen movement and keep it looking smooth. Of course, we wouldn't suggest video editing or photo editing even on this at a professional level, but that's not what this is designed for now, is it? I'm still shocked at how many people in the classic professional white-collar jobs are happy with standard HD screens.

Movies, TV, and other media look great, but its more important job is providing a clear, color-accurate workspace for professional applications, and it does that quite well, too. The screen itself has that silky, smooth feel that many modern displays have.

There are also two 2-watt speakers, which are surprisingly good for laptop speakers. Dolby Audio helps voices and other sounds come out clearly and gives music and video a fuller sound than I would have expected from a laptop.

Of course, they will not replace quality headphones or external desktop speakers, but they work well for calls, presentations, and, as I mentioned before, your movies and TV if you plan on using this laptop for fun things too.

Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

During normal use, the P14S feels extremely fast. I was able to move between multiple programs, browser windows, and background tasks without experiencing any noticeable lag. It responds like a computer ready for real work rather than one suited for online shopping and the occasional email.

The RTX Pro 500 is a workstation-class GPU, and the P14s carries independent software vendor certifications for its intended professional applications. That matters when stability is more valuable than chasing gaming-level frame rates. It also shows that Lenovo knows its lane with this laptop.

They aren't making this for the gamers, generalists, or the budget-seekers. This has its niche in the professional category of needing to be able to handle demanding programs with speed but needing to break records in any way either. The reliability and stability are the game here, and Lenovo has it in spades.

There are reasonable limits. The GPU’s 6GB of memory may restrict extremely complicated renders, massive simulations, or demanding local AI projects - set expectations, though, and you'll get by.

The included 32GB may also become a ceiling for unusually large workloads, although the 96 GB upgrade limit provides potential to grow. For seriously demanding workloads, the ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 is still the king.

The laptop “can” run games, but gaming is simply not its purpose. Performance is good rather than great, maybe even just okay, and the RTX Pro hardware is better suited to professional engineering applications than maximizing frame rate for games. This kind of testing is helpful too, as it gives a glimpse into how this may perform for CAD renderings and other graphically-intensive scenarios.

While this could pull up some models, the more complex ones may take longer than desired, and this isn't the machine you'd want long-term if you live in that space -- or at least not as your only machine.

The cooling system for the P14s becomes noticeable during heavy work. Under sustained loads, the fan is medium-loud, with a somewhat turbine-like sound. Imagine a Dyson bladeless fan. It’s not crazy loud, but there is no mistaking when the laptop is working hard.

Our review unit has the larger 75Wh battery and a 100-watt USB-C charger. Under normal or light use, it lasted pretty much the entire day even at maximum brightness. This was a real-world observation rather than a controlled rundown, but it showed that the device can work away from an outlet without constant anxiety over battery life.

Heavy CAD rendering or other sustained CPU and GPU work will indeed drain the battery much faster, especially with higher screen brightness. That is to be expected from mobile workstation hardware. Lenovo rates Rapid Charge to restore up to 80% in about an hour, which makes it easier to recover a useful amount of battery life during a short break.

Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 feels like another professional tool to choose from if you are in that arena of the professional workforce. Its solid construction, fantastic keyboard, sharp display, quality ports, upgradable memory, and consistent performance support the work it was designed to do.

When you consider the professional hardware, ISV certifications, display quality, and upgradable options, the price of this laptop honestly shifts from a negative to one of its strongest positives.

For professionals and students seeking serious power without moving to a larger or significantly more expensive workstation, this computer is a solid all-around option. They don't necessarily want the newest or the fanciest in the category, they want something they know they can rely on, because downtime isn't worth the cost of a fun feature they occasionally use.

Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future

For more powerhouse performers, we've tested the best business laptops and the best mobile workstations.

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Samsung Galaxy S26: Two-minute review

Every year, Samsung's S-series lineup consists of three models. There's the entry-level option — in this case, the Galaxy S26 — followed by mid- and high-end offerings, which in 2026 are the Galaxy S26 Plus and Galaxy S26 Ultra. While the Ultra steals most of the headlines, the Galaxy S26 is no slouch. It's a great, well-rounded option for those who want a compact phone or don't want to shell out silly money on buying one of the very best Android phones.

The S26 features a slightly tweaked design versus the Galaxy S25, with a new pill-shaped camera array on the back, a 6.3-inch display, and several color options. Tucked underneath its exterior is a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and storage options that now start at 256GB (RIP 128GB). All these specs, along with Android 16 and Samsung's feature-packed One UI 8.5 software, combine for a smooth mobile experience.

In terms of endurance, the Galaxy S26's 4,300mAh battery routinely delivered more than a full day of use in my testing, often leaving me with enough juice to go into the next day. And its trio of rear-facing cameras does the job, as does the selfie cam.

One downside is the $100 / £80 price increase over last year's model (though Australian buyers actually get a AU$50 saving). Yes, this is an industry-wide trend right now — but that doesn't make the numbers feel any better. Thankfully, while the S26 starts at $899 / £879 / AU$1,349, it can often be found on sale.

Another blemish is the limited 25W charging speed and lack of internal magnets to fully support Qi2 chargers and accessories without a case.

Overall, then, if you can find the Galaxy S26 on sale and want to stay within the Samsung ecosystem, it's a great pick-up. However, there's stiff competition at this price point — and below it, too.

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• Starts at $899 / £879 / AU$1,349 for 256GB + 12GB RAM

Samsung announced the Galaxy S26 line, including the base S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra, on February 25, 2026. Preorders opened the same day, and deliveries started March 11.

You can buy the S26 directly from Samsung with a starting price of $899 / £879 / AU$1,349 (which represents a $100 / £80 increase and AU$50 decrease versus the S25). However, Samsung frequently offers discounts, and at the time of writing, the S26 is going for $799 in the US.

Regardless of where you're buying the phone, you'll get double the starting storage versus previous entry-level S-series models (256GB vs 128GB).

Buying directly from Samsung means you'll have two additional color options in Silver Shadow and Pink Gold. Picking it up from third-party retailers like Best Buy and Amazon, or a wireless carrier such as Google Fi or Verizon, limits you to Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, White, or Black.

• Value score: 3 / 5

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Specs

Here's a breakdown of the Samsung Galaxy S26's key specs:

Dimensions:

149.6 x 71.7 x 7.2 mm

Weight:

167g

Display:

6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x

Resolution:

2340 x 1080

Refresh rate:

120 Hz

Peak brightness:

2,600 nits

CPU:

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

RAM:

12GB

Storage:

256GB, 512GB

OS:

Android 16 with One UI 8.5

Cameras:

50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom

Selfie Camera:

12MP

Battery:

4,300mAh

Charging:

25W wired, 15W wireless

Colors:

Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, White, Black, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: DesignFutureFuture

• Same core design as the S25
• New camera array on the back

At first glance, it'd be easy to mistake the S26 for last year's S25. The design differences are small. The biggest visual change is the triple camera array on the back of the phone. Instead of each lens protruding out of the phone's housing, there's a single pill-shaped camera bump. Otherwise, the display is only slightly bigger at 6.3 inches compared to the S25's 6.2 inches. That increase also means the overall size of the phone grew a bit, too. The S26 measures 149.6 x 71.7 x 7.2 mm and weighs 167g.

As previously mentioned, there are a total of six color options available: Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, White, Black, Silver Shadow, and Pink Gold — the latter two of which are exclusive to Samsung.

My daily drivers are an iPhone 15 Pro Max and a Pixel 10 Pro XL, both of which are much larger devices than the S26. Yet, I rather enjoyed the smaller form factor of the S26, and I didn't feel like the smaller display was too small at any time during my testing.

I've often debated whether I should stop using the biggest phone every phone maker offers, and after using the S26 for a couple of weeks, that internal debate is stronger than ever.

The only area I struggled with regarding the design of the Galaxy S26 was the orientation of the sleep/wake button and the volume up/down buttons on the right edge. I found myself instinctively reaching for the volume down button while scrolling through Reels on Instagram, only to press the sleep/wake button and lock the phone. My muscle memory just couldn't adjust to the S26's arrangement, which is the exact opposite of the Pixel 10 Pro XL's, which has volume buttons below the sleep/wake on the same side of its housing.

On the bottom, you'll find a nano-SIM card slot (I thought we were done with physical SIMs?!) and a USB-C port. The left side and top edge of the phone are completely clean.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Display

(Image credit: Future)

• Easy to use in direct sunlight
• Smooth refresh rate

The Galaxy S26 features a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 2340 x 1080 resolution and an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. All these technical specs mean one simple thing: it looks fantastic.

Everything from standard text messages to high-res YouTube clips appears incredibly sharp. Gaming is equally impressive; the display delivers fluid, stutter-free graphics in fast-paced titles like Asphalt Legends, which can take full advantage of the S26's 120Hz refresh rate.

The AMOLED panel truly shines — literally — when you take it outdoors, thanks to a rated peak brightness of 2,600 nits. Even under direct midday sun, I had absolutely no trouble reading the screen or navigating through apps.

There's really not much more to say about the Galaxy S26's screen other than it looks great. No issues. 10/10, would recommend.

• Display score: 5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Software

• 7 years of software updates
• Multitasking features are nice-to-haves

The Galaxy S26 runs Android 16 with Samsung's One UI 8.5 adding customizations and features to the overall experience. If you've ever used a Samsung phone or tablet, you'll feel right at home with the S26's interface.

One UI used to feel duplicative of the base Android experience, particularly when it came to the apps preinstalled on a phone. For instance, Samsung Messages and Google Messages were both available. However, Samsung recently retired Messages in favor of Google's offering.

Samsung hasn't fully given up on its own apps. The Samsung Browser and Gallery are still available, for example. It's still confusing and a cluttered user experience, but it is getting better.

Default apps aside, One UI is mostly interface tweaks and customizations you don't see on, say, a Pixel phone. For instance, the new gestures to view your notifications or the quick settings panel in One UI 8.5 have taken me some getting used to.

Swiping down from the left three-quarters of the screen opens your notification panel, while swiping down from the top-right quarter reveals your quick settings.

I've been using a Galaxy Z Fold 7 running One UI 8.5 for a few months and adjusted to the new interaction with little effort, but for some reason, the smaller screen of the Galaxy S26 keeps tripping me up.

But I digress.

The Now brief interface on the Samsung Galaxy S26 (Image credit: Future)

Galaxy AI is a big part of Samsung's AI initiative. You can use Galaxy AI to do things like let AI screen an incoming call, use writing and editing tools, photo editing, summarize and prioritize notifications, and even get personalized health insights using your Samsung Health data.

The feature list reads like a standard AI suite on any 2026 phone. That's not a bad thing, by any means.

I used the editing tool (Object Eraser) in the Gallery app to remove objects from photos a few times, and each time it nailed it. I'm not a huge fan of converting photos into pop art or retro anime, but in my brief experimentation with that feature, it mostly worked.

Pre-Object EraserFuturePost-Object EraserFuture

Having said all this, the redundancy of every phone maker and major tech company offering its own version of the same AI features can get overwhelming and confusing for users. Hopefully, after the AI boom goes bust, the mass spamming of AI features for the sake of AI features will stop.

Beyond Galaxy AI, one of my favorite features of the S26's software experience is the ability to touch and drag down on a notification to instantly create a small window for that app. It's super helpful when you want to reply to a message or continue a conversation without switching apps. The first time I triggered it was by accident, but once I figured out how it works, I'd routinely swipe down on the pop-up for an alert, do what I needed to do, and then close out the app — all without leaving whatever app I was in at the time. All phones should offer similar multitasking features.

• Software score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Cameras

(Image credit: Future)

• 50MP main camera
• 12MP ultra-wide
• 10MP telephoto

The camera housing on the S26 might be new, but the actual hardware is unchanged from the S25. You still get a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.

I had fun taking photos with the S26. Samsung phones have historically taken photos that are slightly over-saturated, and sometimes overexposed, but that look pretty darn good at the end of the day, and the S26 is no different.

The phone performed beautifully in brightly lit environments, like when I snapped pics of the new Rivian R2 after a test drive. It also did a solid job of preserving detail and color late in the afternoon as the sun went down during my evening walks.

The telephoto lens works well up to its 3x optical limit, but its digital zoom past that point is hit or miss, especially once you get near the 30x limit. I had hoped I'd be able to read a 'no trespassing' sign posted down the street from me at 30x zoom, and while some of the text is legible, it's difficult to read.

The phone's 12MP front-facing hole-punch camera is centered along the top of its display. It takes good selfies, although it makes me look old. Or maybe I'm getting old. It's probably the latter. Sigh.

• Camera score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Camera samplesFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureSamsung Galaxy S26 review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset
• 12GB memory
• 256GB starting storage

The Galaxy S26 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, with 12GB of memory and 256GB or 512GB of storage.

All of that combines to provide a smooth overall experience, with no obvious slowdowns in daily use. I spent my time testing the S26 using it as I would my daily phone.

I made random calls, talked in group chats and with my wife and kids, took pics of random stuff, played a game once in a while, streamed music, and watched some videos. The phone handled everything I put it through without any hiccups. Apps launched fast, and multitasking didn't trigger any lag or unresponsiveness.

One thing I noticed while gaming and running benchmarks is that the S26 gets hot. While it never becomes too hot to hold, it can become uncomfortable during extended gaming sessions. After noticing the temperature rise during a benchmark test, I grabbed my infrared thermometer and measured it at 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

Although I didn't have a case to test with, I imagine a case will likely cause the phone to heat up faster and potentially throttle its performance. This isn't a dealbreaker, but it's something to keep in mind.

Samsung Galaxy S26 benchmark scores

Geekbench 6 single-core

3,616

Geekbench 6 multi-core

10,827

3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test best

6,933

3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test low

2,962

3DMark Solar Bay

12,007

• Performance score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Battery

(Image credit: Future)

• 4,300mAh battery
• 25W wired charging
• 15W wireless charging

Inside the Galaxy S26 is a 4,300mAh battery that's big enough to power through 30 hours of continuous video playback, according to Samsung's claims. In practice, that claim held up. I was easily able to get through a full day of heavy use — starting at 6am and ending around 10pm — and still have enough juice left to make it into the lunch hour the following day.

I felt spoiled while testing the S26, especially since my aging iPhone 15 Pro Max now needs to be recharged multiple times a day.

I normally don't leave my phone overnight without plugging it in, letting it drain precious battery in the process. But I wanted to see just how far I could push the S26's battery, and it delivered. I routinely saw a drop in charge of 4-5% overnight.

When it came time to charge the S26, using a 25W power adapter nets you an 18% charge from empty in 15 minutes. A full charge with the same adapter took 1 hour and 35 minutes. That's slightly slower than the Motorola Razr Plus 2026 I recently tested, but to be expected considering the Razr charges at up to 45W.

Wireless charging is an option at 15W with support for the Qi2 standard. However, there are no magnets in the phone to hold any compatible wireless charger or accessory in place. Instead, you'll need to buy a Qi2-compatible case that includes a ring of magnets to take full advantage of the feature.

I'm sure this is a design and cost-saving decision, but it's an odd one. As someone who uses a MagSafe wallet and has MagSafe chargers all over my home, office, and even in my truck, I've noticed the lack of magnets in the Galaxy S26 daily. At least fixing the problem is just a simple case purchase away.

The S26 also supports reverse wireless charging at up to 4.5W, which isn't a whole lot of power, but it's perfect for those situations when you need to recharge your smartwatch or wireless earbuds while on the go.

• Battery score: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy S26?Samsung Galaxy S26 scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

An unwelcome price increase over last year's model.

3 / 5

Design

A tried-and-true design that looks great.

4 / 5

Display

A display that hits all the marks of what you'd want in a flagship phone.

5 / 5

Software

Android 16 and One UI 8.5 team up to provide a reliable experience.

4 / 5

Cameras

All three cameras take solid pics, but don't rely on the telephoto past 3x.

4 / 5

Performance

Quick and powerful, but the phone does get hot during intense tasks.

4 / 5

Battery

All-day battery life is welcome, but slow charging speeds are not.

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a Samsung phone
The base S26 doesn't totally break the bank, but you are paying more for a Samsung phone than you would with, say, a Google Pixel. But if you're in the Samsung ecosystem, then that extra expense may be worth it.

You want a workhorse
The Galaxy S26's performance doesn't know when to quit. Gaming, multitasking, and doom-scrolling aren't an issue — just don't play graphically intensive titles for too long!

You want all-day battery life
The S26's 4,300mAh battery powered through a full day and then some in our testing.

Don't buy it if...

You want faster charging
Being limited to 25W wired charging means topping off your battery in a hurry just isn't going to happen.

You want full magnetic Qi2 support
The S26 supports the Qi2 wireless charging standard, but you won't find a single magnet on the back of the phone. You'll have to buy a magnet-equipped case for that.

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Also consider

Google Pixel 10
Google's Pixel 10 checks all of the same boxes as the Galaxy S26, with a starting price of $799. It often goes on sale for much less than that, too.

Read our full Google Pixel 10 review

Apple iPhone 17
It doesn't run Android, but Apple's iPhone 17 matches the S26's size, performance, battery life, and camera quality, with a starting price of $799.

Read our full iPhone 17 review

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy S26Why you can trust TechRadar

☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech

I spent two weeks testing the Galaxy S26, using it as I would my everyday smartphone. I sent countless BlueBubble messages, played games, streamed music, and watched far more TheBurntPeanut streams and clips than I care to admit. I took pics of my food, my pets, and other daily randomness, as one does.

Read more about how we test

First tested July 2026

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AI spending is forecast to reach $40.74 billion by 2030.

While AI adoption is accelerating on both sides of the Atlantic, UK and US retailers are taking differing approaches. US organizations are using AI to unlock new revenue opportunities and reshape the customer experience. UK retailers have largely focused on what AI can do internally.

There are understandable reasons for the differing approaches. But UK retailers risk falling behind if they don't broaden their strategy to focus on embedding AI across the full customer journey.

The Transatlantic AI divide: Operational efficiency vs revenue growth

For UK retailers, early AI adoption has been cautious. The focus has been on internal operational efficiencies, such as creating marketing content, handling surface-level customer service and answering post-purchase queries.

US retailers, on the other hand, are embedding AI directly into the shopping journey itself. A third of US adults now use AI agents when shopping online, such as Amazon’s Rufus, to discover or research products. In-chat checkout experiences are becoming increasingly popular. US retailers are positioning AI more like a digital sales assistant than a back-office tool.

While both approaches have their merits, there is a risk UK retailers get left behind. The gap won’t happen overnight. It will emerge quietly, starting with share of attention and then showing up in revenue.

Global retailers using AI for discovery, conversion, and lifetime value will start owning key decision moments. UK brands focused on operational efficiency may find themselves absent from the journeys that matter most.

Compliance vs experimentation

UK retailers didn’t arrive at caution arbitrarily. Regulation and the consumer expectations shaped it. GDPR means shoppers expect clear consent, transparency on data use, and control before engaging with AI-driven experiences.

That’s why many UK retailers started with safer operational use cases, including automating support, enhancing content and streamlining fulfilment, before fully reinventing the ecommerce journey. Explainability and trust came before experimentation.

In the US, fewer regulatory guardrails made it easier for retailers to test AI tools publicly, iterate quickly and showcase value directly to consumers. The UK’s position isn’t a weakness. It’s a different starting point.

By ensuring customer-facing AI functions are both compliant and secure, UK retailers can both unlock new revenue and strengthen consumer confidence, rather than risking the need to roll back features due to compliance concerns.

Turning AI into a commercial growth engine

The faster US adoption has been less about technology and more about how the internal conversation is framed. The boardroom conversation isn’t “How do we save cost?” — it’s “How do we acquire smarter, convert faster and grow lifetime value?”.

US retailers treat AI as a growth lever across the full customer journey, from personalizing discovery and optimizing pricing, to guiding promotions, streamlining checkout and automating lifecycle communications. AI is framed as a revenue driver, not an operational nicety.

UK retailers have strong operational foundations. The shift is about pointing that discipline toward growth, opt-in recommendations and assisted checkouts. Controlled experiments that build insight and customer confidence at the same time.

For these experiments to work, the product data underneath them has to be ready: rich specifications, reviews, imagery and supporting content that gives AI something real to reference during conversational discovery and search.

Predictive personalization can prioritize high-value customers and surface relevant offers. Controlled agentic shopping experiences build familiarity and insight over time. Dynamic pricing and AI-driven lifecycle communications improve both conversion and retention. None of this requires abandoning the trust UK retailers have built.

The risk of falling behind may be gradual, but it is real

UK retail has the foundations. Now they need to be built upon.

Customer acquisition costs will rise if competitors are winning the discovery moment first. Conversions will happen earlier – and elsewhere – if the journey isn’t being shaped. Lifetime value will lag as AI-driven retention compounds faster for the brands that moved sooner.

Cumulative gaps are harder to close than visible ones. The retailers that combine strong governance and trusted data practices with genuine customer-facing AI innovation are the ones that will compete well in what comes next.

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Democratization may be the AI industry's favorite word, and one that, in fairness, it has earned the right to use.

At the beginning of the decade, building anything with machine learning meant a large research team and a significant budget, and that put it out of reach for many.

Today, however, the barrier to using advanced AI has fallen almost entirely, and what used to be a quiet technology in the background has been thrust to the forefront of everyday work and everyday conversation.

But access is just the surface layer. Underneath it sits another layer which, arguably, matters more than access to AI itself, and that layer is training.

Unlike access, model training has not been democratized at all. The industry has made it easy to consume a model and almost impossible to make one.

This needs to change.

A gatekeeper to innovation

If we look closely at what "democratization" has really delivered thus far, we see that what has opened up is only consumption. Anybody can now interact directly with an AI model, even without a technical background, and can build an app in an afternoon with minimal effort. Open-weight releases mean anyone can even run a model on their own hardware, free of an API. These are genuine advances that have helped define the AI-powered world we now live in.

What has not open up is the ability to train a model. Currently, producing a frontier model still requires capital measured in billions, scarce specialist talent that only a handful of labs can attract and retain, vast datasets, and retraining cycles that have to be repeated every six to 12 months just to stay current.

It is a cycle that is stifling progress, and a barrier that no startup, cash strapped healthcare organization, or mid-sized manufacturer can clear. It functions as a gatekeeper to innovation, and it is one that well-funded organizations have every commercial incentive to keep locked, because the scarcity of training capability is precisely what protects their market position.

There is a dichotomy. The cost of using a model has fallen toward zero. The cost of making one has climbed toward the limits of what private capital can sustain.

Can open source help?

Some might argue that the answer is to turn to open-weight models. Open weights, the argument goes, solve the ownership problem. You can download the model, run it, fine-tune it, and deploy it without asking anyone's permission. This is not democratized training though. It may be closer, but owning the weights is not the same as owning the model itself.

An open-weight model remains the frozen output of a training process run by the organization that produced it. What users receive is the result of that process. It is true that they can somewhat adjust the model. But doing that effectively demands expertise, compute, and clean data. And as the world moves on, the model ages and retraining is needed.

So despite their advantages on the surface, open weights do not offer users the ability to produce and continuously improve a model. That ability is still held by the labs that produced it.

The change that could revolutionize innovation

In my view, if democratization reaches the training layer and allows users the genuine ability to create, train, and own a model, several important structural changes follow that could meaningfully accelerate innovation across industries.

Ownership survives the vendor. If a model is trained by its user on the data they own, the weights are theirs without licensing restrictions, it will not evaporate if the company that gave them the tools to build it disappears. The relationship stops being a subscription. That single change alone removes the dependency the current market is built upon.

Models must learn continuously. If training is something that can be done continuously rather than a cyclical and centralized event, the model does not have to freeze at deployment. It can keep learning from new data in production without expensive retraining cycles and without a team of specialists being needed to run it. The workarounds become unnecessary because the underlying limitation is gone.

When control of what a model learns and how occurs at user level, the chain of responsibility is legible. That is the kind of traceability regulators are expecting and that black-box frontier models simply cannot provide.

These are the distributed benefits that make "democratization" the right word at last. If the ability to train a model is widely held, then the value, control, and responsibility are widely held too. General Learning Intelligence treats learning as part of the architecture rather than a cost only the largest labs can bear.

Access to models is already cheap and getting cheaper. However, access to training is not and that is where the next phase of competition will be decided.

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