CMF Phone 1vsSamsung Galaxy A26
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
CMF Phone 1 wins
Verdict
CMF Phone 1 wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
CMF Phone 1 is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — price is its standout. At USD 199, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- CMF Phone 1 takes Performance — led by ram (8 GB).
- CMF Phone 1 takes Display — led by peak brightness (2,000 nits).
- Samsung Galaxy A26 takes Camera — led by video score (87 pts).
- CMF Phone 1 takes Battery — led by charging speed (33 W).
- Too close to call between CMF Phone 1 and Samsung Galaxy A26.
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want…
- Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want more apps open at once — 8 GB vs 6 GB.
- Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want a sharper screen — 395 ppi vs 385 ppi.
- Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 2,000 nits vs 1,000 nits.
- Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want sharper selfies — 16 MP vs 13 MP.
- Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want faster charging — 33 W vs 25 W.
Choose Samsung Galaxy A26 if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A26 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 700,000 pts vs 650,000 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A26 if you want a bigger screen — 6.7 in vs 6.67 in.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy A26 if you want better video quality — 87 pts vs 83 pts.
At a glance
- CMF Phone 1
- Samsung Galaxy A26
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Best price now
The cheap alternative
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
CMF Phone 1
Choose CMF Phone 1 if price matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 199, the lowest price in this group.
Samsung Galaxy A26
Choose Samsung Galaxy A26 if price matters most. It costs USD 249.
Pros & cons
CMF Phone 1
- Swappable back design
- 120 Hz AMOLED
- Very affordable
- Slow charging
- Average cameras
- No NFC in some markets
Samsung Galaxy A26
- 6 years of updates
- 120 Hz AMOLED
- Affordable
- Mid-range chipset
- 25 W charging
- Plastic build