Samsung is gearing up to unveil its flagship series for 2026, the Galaxy S26 series. The series will consist of three models: the Galaxy S26, the Galaxy S26 Plus, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra. However, not everyone is excited for this launch, as the devices are essentially the same as the previous year’s flagship, with only minor changes such as SoC upgrades, battery and color options.
This time, Samsung has pushed back the release date for its new Galaxy S26 series by a month, instead of the usual January release. The Galaxy S26 series will be released around the same time frame as the Galaxy S23 series.
According to several leaks and rumors, the upcoming Galaxy S26 series is expected to bring slightly larger battery, improved charging speeds, and some minor improvements in the design.
Let’s take a deep dive into everything you need to know about the Galaxy S26 series. Please note that the information is based on available renders, rumors, and leaks.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Release Date
Samsung is expected to launch its Galaxy S26 series on February 25, 2026. Yes, this year’s first Galaxy Unpacked event is expected to be held on February 25, 2026. Following the event, the flagship series will undergo a pre-sale phase before open sales starting on March 11.
During this Galaxy Unpacked event, we will see three Galaxy S26 variants: the base Galaxy S26, the Galaxy S26 Plus, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Unlike last year, when Samsung teased its thinnest Galaxy S25 Edge, whose sales were miserable throughout 2025, Samsung will not repeat its mistake of launching another super slim phone for the Galaxy S26 lineup.
Apple did that with its first-ever iPhone Air in 2025, whose sales were nowhere close to what Apple predicted. So yes, people are tired of brands going for the ultra-slim look when the phone compromises a lot of things that people are looking for, such as a larger battery and good camera sensors. And it does not cost much less.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Prices
2025 has been a rough year, especially with the rising costs of components such as storage and RAM. So, there’s a possibility that Samsung might increase the prices for the upcoming Galaxy S26 series. It could be either a $50 increase or maybe even a $100 increase.
However, recent rumors suggest that Samsung will keep the same pricing structure for the Galaxy S26 series as last year, at least in the US to counter the competition. This means that the Galaxy S26 price could start at $799, the Galaxy S26+ at $999, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra at $1299. But, users may not get attractive launch offers like they used to every year after launch. Galaxy S26 series prices may slightly increase in other regions.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Specifications
SoC, RAM, and Storage
The S26 series is expected to come with the recently launched Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC. However, rumors suggest that Samsung intends to exclusively sell their Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus models in the United States and China. Whereas, these models will be available with Samsung’s in-house chip, the Exynos 2600, in other regions.
Moving towards the RAM options, the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus will be coupled with 12 GB of RAM with storage options of 256 GB and 512 GB. On the other hand Galaxy S26 Ultra will be available in 12GB and 16GB RAM paired with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and probably a 2 TB variant that might be sold in select regions. As expected, SD card support won’t return, even with a lot of rumors floating around that many smartphone makers are planning to bring back SD card slots to their devices.
Camera Setup
The Galaxy S26 will continue to have the same camera setup style seen on the previous Galaxy S series devices. There will be the usual solo 12 MP front camera and the usual triple camera rear setup consisting of the 50 MP main camera, 12 MP Ultrawide, and a 3x Telephoto at 10 MP.
On the S26 Ultra, you can expect the same 200 MP main shooter that gets you the 100X digital zoom, a feature that has been standard on the Galaxy Ultra devices. It will be paired with a 50MP ultrawide, a 50MP 5x periscope, and a 10MP 3x telephoto camera.
For the Galaxy smartphones, there are usually software improvements and optimizations in the camera department, considering the camera hardware usually remains the same from generation to generation, except for the addition or removal of physical zoom options of 3x and 5x.
Display Specs and Designs
The Galaxy S26 series will come with the 2K LTPO AMOLED display with a 120 Hertz refresh rate. There’s also going to be the new third-generation anti-reflective display, a feature that was first seen with the launch of the Galaxy S24 Ultra in 2024. This time, we hope to see the anti-reflective screens trickle down to the base and plus variants of the Galaxy S26. We will continue to see the 2600 nits peak brightness on the S26 Ultra. The Galaxy S26+ may miss the upgrade as per rumors as its production started late due to Galaxy S26 edge decision.
Moving towards the display sizes, the base S26 is expected to come with a 6.3-inch display, with the S26 Plus on a 6.7-inch display, and the S26 Ultra at a 6.9-inch display.
Design-wise, all three devices will be similar to the previous generation (including the titanium railings on the Ultra model), except for design changes in the camera section for the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Renders – Michael Ma
These are the color options for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, according to leaks:
- Black
- Cobalt Violet
- Pink Gold
- Silver Shadow
- Sky Blue
- White
Some of these could be Samsung website-exclusive color option for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, as seen with the previous generation Ultra models.
Battery and Charging Speeds
Samsung is expected to introduce some changes in the battery capacities for the S26 series. However, they will continue using Lithium-ion batteries and are not expected to transition to silicone carbide batteries anytime soon.
Regarding battery capacities, the base Galaxy S26 to get a 4300mAh battery (300mAh more than the Galaxy S25) and the Plus model will feature the same 4900 mAh battery. The S26 Ultra is rumored to feature a 5200 mAh battery, which is 200mAh more than the S25 Ultra.
Coming to the charging speeds, the Galaxy S26 will retain the same 25W wired charging as its predecessor. However, there’s a rumor suggesting that the base model might also get 45W charging, like the Galaxy S26 Plus. On the other hand, the S26 Ultra will feature 60W wired charging.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Series: Software and Updates
Samsung is expected to release the new Galaxy S26 series with One UI 8.5 out of the box. Samsung has been beta testing One UI 8.5 on the Galaxy S25 devices since December 2025. One UI 8.5 will come with several new features that improves the overall One UI experience, including some new Galaxy AI tools. Samsung will continue to stick with its promise of 7 years of software updates.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Series: Should You Get It?
If you’re someone like me who has the Galaxy S24 Ultra, I would suggest skipping the S26 and even the future Galaxy S27. Don’t go for the new Galaxy S26 if you’re using any Galaxy smartphone that has been released since the launch of the Galaxy S23 series; you’re fine with your smartphone. However, if you’re using an older smartphone, then opting for the Galaxy S26 series will be a good idea.
It’s too early to decide whether you should skip or buy the Galaxy S26 series, so hold on until February 25, 2025. Check the prices and offers, and then decide if you want to get the S26 series or any other smartphone launching this year in the coming months.
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