Samsung’s next flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, is expected to launch later than last year’s model, with industry leaks pointing to a debut in late February and retail availability by March.

According to well-known tipsters Evan Blass and Ice Universe, Samsung is likely to hold its Galaxy S26 Unpacked event on February 25. This would be a shift from the company’s usual early-February launches and place the unveiling toward the end of the month.

Samsung has not confirmed a sales date, but past release patterns suggest the phone could reach stores around mid-March. Previous Galaxy flagships typically go on sale 14 to 16 days after launch, which would point to a release around March 13.

While the launch timeline appears to be taking shape, pricing remains uncertain. Reports suggest Samsung is facing higher production costs due to a global shortage of memory chips, driven largely by growing demand from artificial intelligence and data centre expansion.

Some sources say Samsung may try to keep prices in line with the Galaxy S25 series, while others expect price increases in key markets. If rivals follow similar pricing strategies, overall demand may hold steady, though Samsung’s marketing flexibility could be affected.

The memory shortage may also impact launch promotions. Samsung has traditionally boosted early sales with free storage upgrades and trade-in offers, but supply constraints could limit or remove these incentives as smartphone makers adjust to rising costs in 2026.