Samsung Galaxy S26 series may launch in February 2026: What to expect

Samsung's Galaxy S26 series is expected to launch on February 25, 2026, marking a return to its earlier release window after two years of January launches

Samsung has reportedly scheduled the launch of its next generation of flagship smartphones for late February next year. According to a report by Android Central, citing South Korean media outlet Money Today, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series will be launched on February 25, 2026. As for the models in the flagship series, Samsung will reportedly stick to its existing lineup of a base model, a Plus variant, and an Ultra variant.

 

According to earlier reports and rumours, Samsung was planning to rejig the upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup by discontinuing the base model and Plus models, while replacing them with an anticipated Pro model and the second-generation Edge model. The Galaxy S26 Ultra was the only potential smartphone that stayed consistent in the reports for months. However, now with the recent report, Samsung is likely to retain its existing nomenclature with the upcoming series.

 

Samsung Galaxy S26 launch timeline delayed

In recent years, Samsung has been steadily advancing the launch schedule of its Galaxy S series. The Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy S23 series launched in February of 2022 and 2023 respectively, while the Galaxy S24 series followed a year later in January 2024. This year’s Galaxy S25 series also debuted in January.

 

However, with reports suggesting a delay for the Galaxy S26, Samsung’s next flagship lineup might go back to the late February release window, similar to the S22 launch. The company has yet to make any official announcements about the S26 lineup or its launch schedule.

Samsung Galaxy S26 series: What to expect

According to a report by The Mint, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 series will bring notable upgrades across display, camera, and performance, led by the top-end Galaxy S26 Ultra.

 

The Galaxy S26 Ultra might sport a 6.9-inch QHD OLED panel built on Samsung’s new M14 display technology, with improved brightness. It may also introduce an AI-driven privacy screen that narrows viewing angles to keep on-screen content discreet. For imaging, it will reportedly feature a quad-camera setup, including a 200MP primary sensor, a new ultra-wide lens, and a 50MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. The fourth lens might be of 12MP or 50MP resolution with 3x optical zoom.

 

The Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus will reportedly share a similar M14 OLED panel with QHD resolution — 6.3 inches on the standard model and 6.7 inches on the Plus variant. Both phones are expected to include a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide, and a 12MP telephoto with 3x zoom.

 

The Samsung Galaxy S26 series might be powered by the Exynos 2600 or Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. Battery life may see modest gains, with 5,400mAh on the Ultra, 4,900mAh on the S26 Plus, and 4,300mAh on the S26. The Ultra variant is expected to offer S Pen support.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Expected specifications

• Display: 6.9-inch Quad HD OLED, built on M14 display
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy or Exynos 2600
• RAM: Up to 16GB
• Storage: Up to 1TB
• OS: One UI 8
• Rear camera: 200MP (wider aperture) + 50MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, 12MP or 50MP with 3x optical zoom
• Battery: 5,400mAh
• Charging: 60W wired, Qi2 wireless magnetic charging
• Thickness: 7.9mm

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus: Expected specifications

• Display: 6.7-inch, Quad HD OLED, built on M14 display
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy or Exynos 2600
• OS: One UI 8
• Rear camera: 50MP + 50MP ultra-wide + 12MP telephoto with 3x zoom
• Battery: 4,900mAh

Samsung Galaxy S26: Expected specifications

• Display: 6.3-inch, Quad HD OLED, built on M14 display
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy or Exynos 2600
• OS: One UI 8
• Rear camera: 50MP + 50MP ultra-wide + 12MP telephoto with 3x zoom
• Battery: 4,300mAh