Samsung has unveiled its latest line of flip and fold phones but shoppers may want to consider sticking with the flagship series that just got a huge price cut and comes with a free tablet. While the Z Fold8 and Z Flip8 hit the shelves only a few weeks ago, Samsung's Galaxy S26 is now available with £340 off.
This base model of the latest Galaxy S range usually costs £899 when buying outright from Giffgaff, but this has just plummeted to £559. After ordering by September 2, shoppers can also claim a free Galaxy Tab S10 Lite worth £369 direct from Samsung.
Deal details and options
Just remember that buying outright means the phone won't come with any minutes, texts or data allowances, so it's worth checking out Giffgaff's latest deals such as an unlimited everything SIM for £14 (was £21). There's also an option to pay monthly for the S26 from £14.98 over 36 months, plus £20 upfront.
Giffgaff's deal massively undercuts retailers like Amazon and Samsung direct, where the same model costs £615 and £779 respectively. Elsewhere, Sky Mobile customers can claim a free Galaxy Watch8 worth £269 when ordering the Galaxy S26 by September 8. Sky's monthly prices start at £23 with £12 upfront, but bear in mind this only includes a 100MB data allowance. Shoppers taking advantage of Giffgaff's Galaxy S26 deal have a choice of black or sky blue colourways.
Phone specifications and performance
Samsung has designed its Galaxy S26 with a 'vibrant' 6.3" display and super sleek frame measuring 7.2mm thin and weighing 167g. It's powered by the Exynos 2600 processor said to deliver 'blazing speeds' and boasts a suite of Galaxy AI features.
There's also an upgraded battery offering 30 hours of video playback and support for fast charging up to 55% in around 30 minutes. On the back is a triple camera system formed of 12MP ultra-wide, 50MP wide, and 10MP telephoto lenses. The camera also offers up to 30x digital zoom and a Horizontal Lock feature to keep shots level.
Expert reviews and verdict
Samsung's Galaxy S26 earned high praise from tech experts when it launched in March, with TechRadar among those hailing it as a 'stellar phone'. "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," they wrote. "The S26 features a slightly tweaked design versus the Galaxy S25, with a new pill-shaped camera array on the back, a 6.3" 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. All these specs, along with Android 16 and Samsung's feature-packed One UI 8.5 software, combine for a smooth mobile experience."
They also pointed to aspects where the Galaxy S26 falls short, adding: "Being limited to 25W wired charging means topping off your battery in a hurry just isn't going to happen. 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." Despite this, TechRadar found its battery lasted for more than a full day, saying: "In terms of endurance, the 4,300mAh battery routinely delivered more than a full day of use, often leaving enough juice to go into the next day. And its trio of rear-facing cameras does the job, as does the selfie cam."
