Samsung Galaxy S26 Series: Everything You Need to Know About 2026's Most Anticipated Android Flagship

Samsung's Big Promise: A Revolutionary User Experience During Samsung's Q3 2025 earnings call, Daniel Araujo, VP of Samsung's Mobile Experience Division, revealed that the Galaxy S26 lineup will "revolutionize the user experience with user-centric, next-gen AI, a second-generation custom AP, and stronger performance, including new camera sensors." This bold statement sets high expectations for what could be Samsung's most significant flagship release in years. With rumors pointing to major changes across design, hardware, and even the model lineup itself, the Galaxy S26 series represents a strategic shift that could redefine Samsung's position in the premium smartphone market. Release Date: When Can You Get Your Hands on the Galaxy S26? Samsung typically kicks the New Year off by launching its flagships, with an event sometimes taking place before the end of January. However, 2026 might break that pattern. Expected Launch Timeline A Korean publication claims the next Galaxy Unpacked event will take place February 25, which would almost certainly mean the phones won't go on sale before March. This represents a slight delay from Samsung's usual schedule. For context, the Unpacked 2025 event that gave us the Galaxy S25 launch took place on January 22. The 2024 edition happened on January 17. Both events were held in San Jose, California. Judging by the last few years of Samsung Galaxy S Unpacked events, expect a Wednesday. Mark your calendars for late February 2026 if you're planning to watch the unveiling live. The Galaxy S26 Lineup: A Bold New Strategy Four Models, But Not What You'd Expect Samsung is reportedly shaking up its traditional lineup structure. Instead of the familiar S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra trio, the 2026 series could introduce significant changes: Galaxy S26 (or S26 Pro): The base Galaxy S26 is reportedly being rebranded as the S26 Pro, featuring a slightly larger 6.27-inch display and a 4,300 mAh battery, representing a 300mAh increase over the Galaxy S25. Galaxy S26 Edge: Samsung is reportedly scrapping the "Plus" model in favor of a sleeker "Galaxy S26 Edge"—a curved-screen, ultra-thin version aimed at design-forward users. This ultra-slim flagship will measure just 5.5mm thick, competing directly with Apple's rumored iPhone 17 Air. Galaxy S26 Ultra: The premium flagship continues as Samsung's feature-rich powerhouse, rumored to feature a slightly slimmer design under 8mm thick and more rounded corners than its predecessor. The S25 Edge isn't doing well according to multiple reports, which could mean Samsung will launch four models, or the Edge variant could replace the Plus model. Processor Power: The Chip Wars Heat Up Exynos 2600: Samsung's Most Advanced Chip Ever The Exynos 2600 is said to be the first 2nm chip produced by Samsung's foundry. This represents a massive technological leap, and the performance numbers are impressive: According to reports from Korean media, the Exynos 2600 delivers the following performance: Over 6× stronger NPU performance compared to Apple's A19 Pro chipset 14% higher multi-core CPU performance 75% improvement in GPU capabilities The Regional Divide Continues (Maybe) Samsung plans to continue its dual-chip strategy, with reports confirming Samsung will also use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 to power the Galaxy S26 series in certain regions. The Snapdragon 8 Elite's successor will likely power the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Galaxy S26 Edge globally. The same Snapdragon chip will likely power the S26 and S26+ in the US, Canada, and China. Everywhere else, we expect Samsung to use an Exynos chip for these models. However, there's a twist: There's still a chance that the S26 range could feature Snapdragon's latest processor but only in territories like the US, China and Japan. In the past, that regional split has always made for a point of contention as the Snapdragon-laden Galaxy phones have typically had a higher performance ceiling than their Exynos counterparts, but that narrative might finally change this time around, for once leaving the international crowd feeling jealous of what's available in the UK and Europe. Memory and Storage Regardless of the chip, Samsung will offer 12GB of RAM and 256GB storage as standard. 512GB and 1TB storage variants should be available as well. For the Ultra model, the Galaxy S25 Ultra comes in a variant with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage that's exclusive to a handful of markets, and we hope Samsung will make such a variant more accessible with next year's Ultra model. Display Technology: Bigger, Brighter, Better Screen Sizes Across the Lineup Samsung is giving users more screen real estate across the board: The S26 Pro would feature a slightly larger 6.27-inch display compared to the current 6.2-inch panel on the Galaxy S25. Meanwhile, the S26 Edge could get a 6.66-inch panel, and the S26 Ultra may feature a 6.89-inch display – if true, all three S26 phones would be slightly bigger than their predecessors. Revolutionary Display Technology The Galaxy S26 Ultra will receive the most advanced display upgrades: Ice Universe suggests it'll feature "CoE depolarizer technology and third-generation anti-reflective glass." A recent report from ET News says the Ultra will adopt CoE technology alongside M14 screen materials — which should both offer a brighter screen and better color reproduction. That's the same type of panel Apple and Google use on their flagships, so we'd expect the Galaxy S26 screen to be brighter if this rumor pans out. Bezel-Free Design To achieve this, the bezel on the S26 Ultra will supposedly be "no more than 1.2mm" – in other words, extremely slim. This would create an almost edge-to-edge viewing experience. Like the Galaxy S25, you can look forward to bright colors, great clarity, and wide viewing angles. Both should also have the smooth 120Hz refresh rate that's now standard. Under-Display Camera Rumors (Likely False) There was one thing we were hearing about — that the Galaxy S26 Ultra would supposedly have a selfie camera hidden under its display. However, the most recent rumors state that this isn't true, and there will still be a tiny black dot at the top of the display to house the unobstructed selfie camera. Camera Upgrades: Evolution Over Revolution Galaxy S26 Ultra Camera Specifications The Galaxy S26 Ultra will offer a 200MP Samsung HP2 main rear camera, a 50MP JN3 ultrawide unit, and a 50MP Sony IMX854 periscope telephoto setup with 5x optical zoom. For selfies, the phone will use a 12MP Sony IMX874 sensor. The main camera details have sparked some controversy: There was a hope for some time that the main sensor on the Galaxy S26 Ultra would be getting a major upgrade, after word that Sony was working on a 1.1" sensor. If that sensor does make its way to a Samsung phone, it won't be the Galaxy S26 Ultra as the latest leaks show it adhering to the same 200Mp 1/1.3" sensor as last year. However, there's a silver lining: The S26 Ultra should be moving to a wider aperture of f/1.4, which should help a great deal more when it comes to low-light photography. Telephoto Lens Changes According to reports, the device will feature a 50Mp telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom but a larger aperture than the S25 Ultra, while the separate 3x telephoto will supposedly be upgraded from 10Mp to 12Mp. Though one concerning rumor suggests Samsung is still only using 10Mp of it, and it's a smaller sensor than the S25 Ultra, amounting to a real-world downgrade. Standard Model Camera Updates The first major camera rumor we've heard about the 2026 Samsung flagships claims that the entry-level Galaxy S26 will retain the 50MP main camera for another year. That said, we may see a brand new sensor, one that's larger than before to capture more light. Good news for ultrawide photography: The Galaxy S26 would have a 50MP ultrawide shooter to go with its 50MP main lens. Video Capabilities While the Galaxy S25 Ultra's video certainly is great, it's still an area where Apple dominates with better cinematic effects, better detail, better stabilization and exposure, better sound — basically a step ahead in most ways that matter. Samsung will need to address this gap if it wants to compete comprehensively with Apple's iPhone 17 Pro lineup. Battery and Charging: Addressing Long-Standing Complaints Bigger Batteries Across the Board Samsung is rumored to be working on its own take: stacked batteries, which would also allow for bigger batteries in the same physical space. This technology could finally help Samsung compete with Chinese manufacturers who've embraced silicon carbon batteries. The Galaxy S26 Edge will be particularly impressive: It will feature a 4,200-4,400 mAh battery despite its thin profile, addressing the S25 Edge's biggest criticism of poor battery life. Charging Speeds: Mixed News There were high hopes for faster charging: There are rumors we may see 65W charging for the lineup, but now these rumors are looking less likely. A recent leak and certification show that we can expect 25W wired charging for both the Galaxy S26 Pro and S26 Edge. For reference, the Galaxy S25 supports 25W wired and 15W wireless, while the Plus has 45W wired and again 15W wireless. Samsung will need to improve these numbers to remain competitive. AI Features: Multiple Assistants, Maximum Flexibility Partnership with Perplexity and OpenAI Samsung is reportedly working with Perplexity AI and OpenAI (ChatGPT) to offer multiple AI assistants out of the box—a direct challenge to Google's Gemini. This could allow users to choose or switch between assistants based on preferences and use cases. What's likely to get the most buzz, though, is Samsung's big focus on generative AI. We don't yet know what these AI features will actually do or how impressive they'll be, but it's clear Samsung is heading in that direction, just like everyone else. AI as a Differentiator The emphasis on AI represents Samsung's attempt to create meaningful differentiation in an increasingly crowded flagship market. With processing power plateauing, AI-powered features may become the primary battleground for premium smartphones. Design Changes: Refined Aesthetics More Rounded, iPhone-Like Curves Recently leaked mockups show off a phone with more iPhone-looking curves, with more rounded corners than we've seen on the past two generations of Galaxy S handsets. Color Options Apparently, Samsung is making an orange Galaxy S26 Ultra, and we've already seen the alleged new color on dummy units. This vibrant option would compete with Apple's iPhone 17 Pro colors. S Pen: Staying or Going? All the latest leaks show us that the phone still has an S Pen silo in it. Very early rumors said that it may be removed. Since the S26 Ultra is expected to have full Qi2 functionality — with magnets in the body — that would interfere with the digitizer that S Pens have been using thus far. However, leaked specs about the Galaxy S26 models indicate that S Pen support will remain a part of the Ultra. Good news for productivity enthusiasts. Software: Android 16 and One UI 8 Long-Term Support Samsung has been promising 7 years of support with its recent phones, which would mean that the Galaxy S26 Ultra should get Android 23 with One UI 15 in 2033. One UI Features The Samsung One UI comes with a hefty package of Samsung-specific apps — the Phone dialer has been redesigned, the Calendar is better to the stock Google Calendar, the Camera app is custom, there's a Samsung Gallery even a Samsung app store. Pricing: What Will the Galaxy S26 Cost? Expected Price Points For now, the only thing we can say with some certainty is that the prices will remain the same as the Galaxy S25 lineup. However, the USA's trade policies—namely Trump's tariff war—could force Samsung's hand into attaching a higher price tag, even if the increase isn't substantial. The company also anticipates price increases in key components such as memory, which might drive up smartphone prices. Carrier Deals and Promotions Almost always, new models launch with a "free storage upgrade" promo, meaning you will be getting the 512 GB model at the price of the 256 GB one for a limited time. Expected carrier offers: Verizon: Historically lets you save up to $1,000 with new line activation on any myPlan and phone trade-ins in any condition T-Mobile: typically also meets the $1,000 off offer with an eligible device trade-in on the Go5G Next plan AT&T took the cake with the best Galaxy S25 Ultra offer in early 2025, with up to $1,300 off on the phone Should You Wait for the Galaxy S26? If You Just Bought a Galaxy S25 You should not wait for the Galaxy S26 if you just got your new shiny Galaxy S25. The differences between the models may not be huge enough to warrant an upgrade, but it's really early to tell. If You're Due for an Upgrade The Galaxy S26 series offers several compelling reasons to wait: Next-generation AI capabilities with multiple assistant options Improved Exynos 2600 chip that might finally match or exceed Snapdragon performance Better displays with M14 OLED technology and improved brightness Larger batteries across the lineup Refined designs with slimmer bezels and more rounded corners Camera improvements especially in low-light performance The Competition: iPhone 17 vs. Galaxy S26 Samsung is clearly positioning the S26 series to compete directly with Apple's iPhone 17 lineup. The ultra-slim S26 Edge targets the rumored iPhone 17 Air, while the S26 Ultra aims to match or exceed the iPhone 17 Pro Max in every category. What Samsung Gets Right (and Wrong) The Positives Finally competitive Exynos performance that could eliminate the regional disparity Next-generation display technology matching Apple and Google AI flexibility with multiple assistant options Long-term software support with 7 years of updates Refined industrial design with slimmer bezels and better ergonomics Areas of Concern Conservative camera upgrades sticking with the same main sensor Slow charging speeds compared to Chinese competitors Potential price increases due to tariffs and component costs Uncertainty about lineup with possible elimination of traditional models The Bigger Picture: Samsung's Strategy for 2026 Samsung says it'll double down on AI-powered smartphones, including the upcoming Galaxy S26 series and new foldables. The company plans to use seasonal promotions and push ecosystem devices such as watches and earbuds to keep its momentum going. Samsung says it will focus on AI leadership and innovative form factors in 2026. This represents a comprehensive ecosystem approach rather than relying solely on flagship phone sales. Conclusion: A Pivotal Moment for Samsung The Galaxy S26 series arrives at a critical juncture for Samsung. With Apple continuing to dominate the premium segment and Chinese manufacturers offering compelling alternatives, Samsung needs the S26 lineup to deliver on its revolutionary promises. The introduction of the ultra-slim S26 Edge, the potential superiority of the Exynos 2600 chip, and the integration of multiple AI assistants show Samsung is willing to take risks and innovate. However, conservative camera upgrades and slow charging speeds reveal areas where the company remains cautious. For consumers, the Galaxy S26 series promises to be one of the most interesting flagship launches in recent memory. Whether Samsung can truly "revolutionize the user experience" as promised remains to be seen, but all signs point to a device lineup that pushes boundaries in design, performance, and AI capabilities. Mark your calendars for late February 2026, and prepare for what could be Samsung's most ambitious flagship launch ever. The Galaxy S26 isn't just another incremental upgrade—it's Samsung's statement of intent for the future of premium Android smartphones.