Apple iPhone Air vs Samsung Galaxy A26

Our verdict: On contract, the Samsung Galaxy A26 works out £562.00 cheaper overall than the Apple iPhone Air. The Samsung Galaxy A26 has a bigger 6.7" screen, but the Apple iPhone Air is sharper at 444 PPI. If you'd rather buy outright, the Samsung Galaxy A26 starts at £239.00 SIM-free. The Apple iPhone Air gives you more flexibility with 3 storage options to choose from.

Screen
6.5" 6.7"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution
1206 x 2622 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
444 385
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
18 Megapixels 13 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) 5nm Exynos 1280
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB 128GB, 256GB
OS
Apple iOS Android
SIM Type
e- SIM Nano SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth
6.0, A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions
156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm 164 x 77.5 x 7.7 mm
Weight
165 grams 200 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Contracts
£29.99/mo (£159.00 upfront) £11.99/mo (£29.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£645.99 £239.00
Apple iPhone Air Apple iPhone Air Samsung Galaxy A26 Samsung Galaxy A26
Screen 6.5" 6.7"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution 1206 x 2622 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 444 385
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 18 Megapixels 13 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) 5nm Exynos 1280
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 128GB, 256GB
OS Apple iOS Android
SIM Type e- SIM Nano SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions 156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm 164 x 77.5 x 7.7 mm
Weight 165 grams 200 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Contracts £29.99/mo
£159.00 upfront
£11.99/mo
£29.00 upfront
SIM-free £645.99 £239.00
Deals Deals

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy A26 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy A26 is cheaper on contract at £328.93 over the life of the deal from £11.99 per month with £29.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy A26?

The Samsung Galaxy A26 has the bigger screen at 6.7" compared to the Apple iPhone Air's 6.5", the Apple iPhone Air has the sharper display at 444 pixels per inch versus 385, and the Apple iPhone Air uses a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy A26 has a Super AMOLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy A26?

The Apple iPhone Air features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy A26 has a 50 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy A26?

The Samsung Galaxy A26 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £239.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy A26?

The Apple iPhone Air is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, while the Samsung Galaxy A26 comes in 128GB, 256GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy A26 use?

The Apple iPhone Air is powered by the Apple A19 Pro (3 nm), while the Samsung Galaxy A26 uses the 5nm Exynos 1280 .

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy A26?

The Apple iPhone Air is the more portable of the two — it's 35g lighter at 165 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm, and is slimmer at 5.6mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy A26?

The Apple iPhone Air is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy A26 is rated IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min).

What operating system do the Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy A26 run?

The Apple iPhone Air runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy A26 runs Android. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.