Samsung is expected to unveil its Galaxy S26 smartphone series in early 2026, with leaks suggesting a familiar lineup and a focus on refinement rather than major changes.
The Galaxy S26 range is tipped to include three models: the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra. Earlier rumours of a shake-up — such as replacing the Plus model with an “Edge” version or renaming the base model as “Pro” — have been dismissed. Reports say Samsung cancelled plans for an S26 Edge after weak sales of the Galaxy S25 Edge.
Most sources point to a launch event in January or February 2026, likely at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked showcase. Some leaks suggest a late January unveiling, while others indicate a February 25 event due to internal changes. Pre-orders are expected to open shortly after, with devices reaching stores in February or March.
Design leaks indicate a more unified look across the series. All three models are expected to feature rounded corners and a vertical camera island on the back. The Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus are said to use a pill-shaped camera module with three lenses, while the S26 Ultra will house four cameras in a similar island, moving away from its previous distinct design.
Dummy units and leaked software files also point to built-in Qi2 magnetic wireless charging across the range, similar to Apple’s MagSafe system. Slimmer designs are also rumoured, possibly using internal components originally developed for the cancelled Edge model.
In terms of performance, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor worldwide. The Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus are likely to use Samsung’s Exynos 2600 chip in some regions, including Europe and South Korea, while Snapdragon variants may be sold in markets such as the US and China.
Camera hardware is expected to see only minor changes compared with the Galaxy S25 series. The S26 Ultra is tipped to retain its 200-megapixel main camera, while the base and Plus models are expected to keep 50-megapixel sensors. Samsung is said to be focusing on software and artificial intelligence improvements rather than major hardware upgrades. The S26 Ultra may feature a larger front-facing camera cut-out to allow for wider group selfies.
Battery and charging upgrades are more noticeable. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumoured to support up to 60W wired charging, up from 45W on previous models, alongside faster wireless charging with full Qi2 support. Battery capacity on the Ultra could increase slightly to between 5,000mAh and 5,400mAh.
Other expected features include brighter OLED displays, higher base storage starting at 256GB, and up to 16GB of RAM on higher-end models. The phones are likely to launch with One UI 8.5, based on Android 16, bringing updated Galaxy AI features and deeper integration with Samsung’s digital assistant.
Overall, early information suggests the Galaxy S26 series will be an incremental update. The biggest changes are expected on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, while the standard and Plus models may see only modest improvements as Samsung prioritises stability, AI features and charging upgrades.
