January marked a milestone for Samsung with the global debut of its first-ever trifold smartphone, the Galaxy Z TriFold (first impressions), at CES 2026. But the excitement is set to build further next month with the arrival of the next-gen flagship Galaxy S26 series. Although Samsung has yet to make an official announcement, noted tipster Ice Universe has already tipped both the launch timeline and the expected pricing of the upcoming flagships.
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Samsung Galaxy S26 series could be priced starting Rs 80,999
Citing Korean media reports, the tipster shares that the Samsung Galaxy S26 series launch date is set for February 25th. The launch event will take place in San Francisco, US, and much like its predecessor, we could see the birth of three models: Samsung Galaxy S26, Samsung Galaxy S26+ and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Furthermore, Samsung is reportedly planning to hold the line on pricing not only for the Galaxy S26 models but also for the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8, both expected to debut in July. This would be a notable move at a time when rising component costs are pushing many manufacturers to raise smartphone prices, making Samsung’s decision all the more impressive.
To recall, the Samsung Galaxy S25 was launched in India starting Rs 80,999. The S25+ and S25 Ultra were introduced at Rs 99,999 and Rs 1,29,999, respectively. If the leak is anything to go by, the S26 series could also start at Rs 80,999.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC for Galaxy, and more on the S26 series
Previous leaks and rumours have confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy S26 series will be powered by an exclusive Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC for Galaxy. The chipset will not only be optimised to deliver impressive performance, but also feature advanced AI capabilities.
The series is said to sport a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. In optics, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series could debut with a quad rear camera setup, comprising an identical 200MP primary sensor, 50MP ultra-wide lens, 50MP 5x telephoto, and a 10MP additional unit to its predecessor. Software-wise, all three models may run Android 16-based OneUI 8 out of the box.
As for the battery, the S26 series is rumoured to pack a 5,000mAh battery paired with 60W wired charging – up from 45W in Galaxy S25 Ultra, and 20W wireless charging. The series could also retain much of the Galaxy S25 series’ design, with a slight change to the camera island.
As exciting as Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S-series lineup may sound, it’s also worth keeping an eye on the previous generation. Older models often see price cuts, and on top of that, major discounts during sales, making them a compelling option.
Take the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, for instance. It is currently listed on Amazon.in for Rs 1,07,220, down from its launch price of Rs 1,24,999. Considering the device still has six more years of software support from Samsung, it remains a solid choice for users who want a flagship experience without paying top-tier prices.
