Everything you need to know about Samsung Galaxy S26 series before launch

New year, new flagships. This phrase has practically become Samsung’s mantra in recent years, especially when it comes to the Galaxy S lineup. The Korean tech giant is now preparing to unveil its next generation of premium smartphones: the Galaxy S26 series.

Over the past few months, a steady stream of rumors and leaks has painted an increasingly clear picture of what Samsung has in store for its upcoming flagship devices. The Galaxy S26 series is shaping up to be one worth waiting for. Last year’s Galaxy S25 series was widely viewed as a modest refinement rather than a major leap forward, leaving many customers hoping for more substantial improvements this time around.

As a result, anticipation is high to see whether Samsung will deliver meaningful innovations with the Galaxy S26 phones. Here’s everything we know so far about Samsung’s upcoming flagship series.

When to expect the Galaxy S26 series

Samsung’s first Unpacked event of the year traditionally takes place in the first quarter. While the Galaxy S25 was released in early February last year, recent rumors suggest that the Galaxy S26 series will arrive in late February 2026.

According to a recent leak by Ice Universe, Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S26 on February 25. The pre-sale period is reportedly scheduled from February 26 to March 4. Official pre-orders are said to run from March 5 to March 10, with the new devices hitting store shelves on March 11.

The Galaxy S26 series is expected to include three models: the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. As for the S26 Edge variant, there is still no confirmation on whether Samsung plans to launch the ultra-thin model, as last year’s Galaxy S25 Edge reportedly did not perform well in terms of sales.

A design overhaul might be down the road

Samsung has largely kept the design of its Galaxy S-series flagships consistent over the past few years. However, the Galaxy S26 series may receive a modest design refresh this year, potentially aligning more closely with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The S26 lineup is expected to emphasize thinness and portability, following the design direction seen in Samsung’s latest foldable devices.

A video leaked by @OnLeaks on X shows an alleged Galaxy S26 Ultra dummy unit featuring a camera bump. The design closely resembles that of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and could indicate Samsung’s intention to unify the visual identity of its flagship smartphones. Additionally, images leaked by case manufacturer Thinborne suggest that the Ultra model may adopt more rounded corners.

As for the standard and Plus models, no major design departures are expected compared to their predecessors. The only anticipated changes are a slimmer profile and reduced weight.

Samsung Galaxy S26 rumored specs

This year’s Galaxy S26 is expected to feature a slightly larger 6.3-inch display. Peak brightness and refresh rate are said to reach 2,600 nits and 120Hz, respectively. The device is also rumored to be slimmer, measuring 6.9mm in thickness compared to the Galaxy S25’s 7.2mm profile.

On the hardware side, the Galaxy S26 is expected to be powered by either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 or Samsung’s Exynos 2600, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of internal storage. The device is also rumored to pack a larger 4,300mAh battery with support for 25W charging.

As for cameras, the rear setup is expected to include a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto camera as the standard configuration. A 12MP front-facing camera is also here.

Galaxy S26 Plus rumored specs

With a potential Galaxy S26 Edge absence from this year’s lineup, the Galaxy S26 Plus could receive more market attention, although it may not bring major upgrades over its predecessor. The device is expected to feature a 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

The Galaxy S26 Plus is also expected to offer the same hardware options as the standard model, including the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 or Samsung’s Exynos 2600, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of internal storage. Meanwhile, the device may not become any slimmer, retaining its 7.3mm thickness.

Powering the phone is a 4,900mAh battery with support for 45W charging. In terms of cameras, the Galaxy S26 Plus could feature a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP front-facing camera.

Galaxy S26 Ultra rumored specs

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the crown jewel of Samsung’s flagship lineup this year. The device is expected to feature the same 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED display found on last year’s model. However, the S26 Ultra could become slightly slimmer, measuring 7.9mm in thickness compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 8.2mm profile.

The phone is also rumored to launch globally with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. RAM options are expected to include 12GB and 16GB, while internal storage choices may range from 256GB and 512GB to 1TB.

In terms of cameras, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to feature a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, a 50MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, and a 12MP front-facing camera. Powering the device could be a 5,200mAh battery with support for 60W charging.

It is worth noting that all Galaxy S26 models are expected to ship with One UI 8 based on Android 16.

What are your thoughts on Samsung’s upcoming flagships? Are you planning to upgrade this year? Let us know in the comments below.

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Posted Monday 26 January 2026 at 11:59 am AEST (my time).

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