The Galaxy S26 series will be Samsung’s flagship smartphone series for next year. It is expected to launch in early 2026, continuing the brand’s annual flagship cycle. Since late 2024, leaks have sketched out chips, charging, design, and naming. With plenty of details already out, we now have a clearer picture of what to expect. Here’s a complete roundup of everything we know about these phones:
Table of Contents
New models, refined design
As per GSMA listings, one of which was spotted by SammyPolice, Samsung may narrow the Galaxy S26 lineup to three models by dropping the Plus variant in favour of the Galaxy S26 Edge. The expected models are the S26 Pro, S26 Edge, and S26 Ultra. Android Authority has also spotted the reference to these three models in the One UI 8 firmware.
The S26 Edge could be among the thinnest yet, at around 5.5mm according to tipster Ice Universe, and Samsung may further slim the back profile with a thinner camera module and changes to the camera assembly. In our Galaxy S25 Edge review, we noted, “the S25 Edge feels slim and sleek, making it easier to wield and slip the smartphone in and out of the pockets.“
The Plus variant in the previous Galaxy S series often felt like the middle child. The new Edge model could add a clearer separation from both the base version and the Ultra. The thinness could be a selling point. But a thin profile could be a concern for thermal management as we noted in our Galaxy S25 Edge testing. Slimness could be a trade-off for a smaller battery and sometimes fewer camera features. Let’s hope Samsung addresses these.
Meanwhile, the Ultra model could be around 7.x mm thick, which is slimmer than the 8.2-inch thick Galaxy S25 Ultra. All phones could get newer colours, but a major redesign is unlikely.
The S Pen for the Ultra is still uncertain. While early reports suggested Bluetooth support for a new S Pen, a recent rumour by tipster PandaFlashPro, Samsung might remove the main display digitiser to enable magnetic Qi2 wireless charging. If true, the current S Pen would not work, and Samsung would need to design a new stylus. Let’s see.
New OLED screens
Display sizes could vary slightly between sources. Digital Chat Station (DCS) suggests the S26 Pro will have a 6.27-inch screen, the Edge a 6.66-inch panel, and the Ultra a 6.9-inch display. The Ultra is expected to retain its 6.9-inch size but with slimmer bezels, reportedly reduced from 1.2mm to 1.15mm.
Ice Universe says Samsung will likely use CoE OLED panels with a new anti-reflective coating for better light transmittance, improved brightness, and higher efficiency. Furthermore, the display could also sport AI-driven OLED control tech, called Flex Magic Pixel, which adjusts viewing angles by dimming pixels for on-screen privacy without dimming or degrading display quality. This could come in handy, especially when travelling in crowded metros or subways.
All models should support at least a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. An under-display selfie camera for the Ultra remains debated, with a recent report by Korean publication Naver negating it.
Dual chip strategy
Samsung is expected to continue its dual-chip strategy. As per DCS, the Galaxy S26 series will likely use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 for Galaxy, built on TSMC’s 3nm process, with a peak clock speed of 4.74GHz. A Samsung-made version of the Snapdragon chip is also possible.
According to ZDNet Korea, Samsung may enhance thermal efficiency with a Heat Path Block (HPB) copper insert and a vapour chamber that is 1.2 times larger than before. RAM and storage options could start at 128GB and go up to 1TB, with up to 16GB of RAM for the Ultra.
Camera upgrades
Although there were initial rumours of a 1.1-inch 200MP Sony sensor as Galaxy S26 Ultra’s main sensor, recently Ice Universe said it could ship with the same 200MP ISOCELL HP2 1/1.3-inch sensor that’s present on the S25 Ultra.
However, this sensor could be equipped with a f/1.4 aperture lens, which could let in 47 percent more light to the sensor than the f/1.7 aperture lens of the predecessor. This could bring noticeable improvement in low-light shots. Early prototypes hinted at a return of variable aperture for the Ultra’s main camera, a feature last seen on the Galaxy S9 series.
Additional cameras may include a 50MP ultrawide lens, a 12MP 3x telephoto, and a 50MP 5x periscope. There are also reports of the latter two being a 50MP secondary telephoto with 3.5x optical zoom and a 50MP periscope with 8X zoom.
Laser autofocus and the next-generation ProVisual Engine are expected. The Galaxy S26 Pro could stick with a 50MP main camera, possibly with a larger sensor for better performance. The Galaxy S26 Edge could, meanwhile, have a 50MP ultrawide shooter. Software-driven improvements and AI-powered features are expected across the series.
Newer battery tech, faster charging
Tipster Digital Chat Station claimed battery sizes could differ by model. Galaxy Club reports that the S26 Pro may pack a 4,300mAh battery, the Edge a 4,200mAh unit, and the Ultra a 5,000mAh cell. Stacked battery technology and silicon-carbon chemistry, rumoured since January, may appear to boost energy density without adding bulk. In our Galaxy S25 review, we were slightly dejected by the absence of this tech. We said, “Battery life wasn’t Galaxy S24’s biggest strength, and the story remains almost similar this time. The latest carbon-silicon technology allows for higher capacity without increasing the size, but Samsung has chosen to stick with traditional lithium-ion batteries instead.”
Moreover, according to Ice Universe, Samsung is expected to increase charging speeds to 60W on the Ultra. The company seems to be finally responding to Chinese brands like Xiaomi and OnePlus, which already offer 80W–120W charging, while balancing safety. For context, the OnePlus 13 supports up to 100W charging, and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra supports 90W charging.
New One UI and more AI
The Galaxy S26 series could run One UI 8.5, likely based on Android 16. Samsung has teased that it will add multiple AI agents beyond Google Gemini, built on a flexible integration framework. There are also reports that Samsung could partner with Perplexity AI to deliver more advanced generative AI tools, signalling a bigger focus on AI-powered features throughout the system. Even Apple is expected to allow Gemini and other chatbots as alternatives to ChatGPT in Apple Intelligence integration.
When will Galaxy S26 series release?
The Galaxy S26 series is expected to follow Samsung’s usual schedule. Like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, we expect an announcement in February 2026, with a market release a few weeks later.
Galaxy S26 series price expectation
There are no rumours currently, but the Galaxy S26 series is expected to be priced similarly to the Galaxy S25 lineup. So, the prices could start from Rs 79,999 for the Galaxy S26 Pro, the Edge starting around Rs 99,999, and the Ultra model could be priced starting around Rs 1,29,999.
Should you wait for Galaxy S26 series?
With leaks pointing to newer display tech, more efficient battery tech, faster charging, and a bigger AI push, the Galaxy S26 series is shaping up to be more than just a routine refresh. Samsung is replacing the standard and Plus models with Pro and Edge variants to create clearer product differentiation and enhance the perception of premium value in its lineup, aligning with evolving industry and consumer expectations.
If you already own a Galaxy S24 or S25, the jump may not feel dramatic unless you specifically want the new AI tools or the upgraded cameras. But if you’re using an older Galaxy flagship or another Android phone, waiting until early 2026 could be the smarter move, as the S26 lineup looks set to deliver Samsung’s most significant upgrade in years.
