Samsung is preparing to shake up the smartphone world once again with the upcoming launch of its Galaxy S26 series. This year, the tech giant is breaking tradition, pushing its highly anticipated Unpacked event to February 25, 2026—several weeks later than the usual late January reveal. According to renowned tipster Evan Blass and corroborated by case maker DuxDucis, the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra will hit store shelves on March 11, 2026, with pre-orders opening ahead of that date. This delay, as reported by SammyFans, is largely attributed to ongoing supply chain bottlenecks, especially in the semiconductor and memory sectors.
Those eager for a first glimpse at the new devices didn’t have to wait for Unpacked. DuxDucis recently published detailed images of the S26 Ultra and its accessories, revealing several major design shifts. The most noticeable? The S Pen, which now sports a shaved upper tip—its first makeover in years—to match the phone’s newly rounded corners. The S Pen slot has also been pushed to the edge of the phone’s body, making it partially visible from two angles. This tweak is a clear move away from the angular legacy of the Note series, signaling Samsung’s intent to refine its design language for a more cohesive, ergonomic feel.
The S26 Ultra’s camera system is another standout. The phone boasts a prominent camera bump housing three or four sensors, each encircled by premium-looking metal rings. These rings, a return to form after the plastic ones seen in the S25, help soften the visual impact of the camera island, which itself is constructed in a dual-layer design for a smoother back finish. The camera bump measures 4.5mm thick, while the phone’s body is a svelte 7.9mm—except at the camera, where total thickness jumps to 12.4mm. According to SammyFans, this layered approach will likely become a hallmark of Samsung’s flagship phones in the coming years.
Under the hood, the S26 Ultra is set to continue using the 200MP ISOCELL HP2 image sensor, a decision that has sparked both anticipation and criticism. While some fans lament the "slow progression" and even "setbacks" in camera innovation and S Pen functionality, Samsung has opted to prioritize the 5x zoom focal length, which is more commonly used by the majority of consumers. As one observer put it, "an extra, more common focal length is worth the given compromise (or apparently, even upgrade) in quality at 10x and beyond." The Ultra’s camera suite will also include a 50MP ultra-wide lens and a 50MP 5x periscope, with rumors suggesting the 10MP 3X telephoto could be replaced by a 12MP version featuring improved HDR capabilities.
Looking ahead, the Galaxy S27 Ultra—expected in early 2027—is rumored to introduce the ISOCELL HP6 sensor. According to leaks from Ice Universe, this sensor will focus on silicon-level enhancements like advanced on-sensor HDR logic rather than dramatic changes in sensor size. With Chinese competitors pushing 1-inch sensors in their flagship models, Samsung’s bet on engineering and software optimization over sheer hardware size is a calculated risk. There’s even speculation that Samsung might eventually switch to Sony-made sensors for future flagships, though nothing is confirmed.
The S26 series isn’t just about cameras and design. Samsung is making a notable leap in charging technology, with the S26 Ultra expected to support 60W wired charging—a jump from the 45W maximum in the S25 Ultra. This means users can expect to charge their devices from 0% to 75% in just 30 minutes, though the faster charger will be sold separately, with only a cable included in the box. This efficiency boost is sure to please power users and busy professionals alike.
Privacy is also taking center stage. All S26 models will feature the new privacy display, powered by Flex Magic Pixel technology, which dynamically dims screen pixels to prevent prying eyes from viewing content from the side. Previously rumored to be exclusive to the Ultra, this feature is now set to roll out across the entire S26 lineup, reflecting Samsung’s commitment to user security.
On the software front, Samsung’s One UI 8.5 beta 3 recently dropped for the S25 series, bringing a host of bug fixes and performance improvements. The update addresses issues like lock screen clock errors, favorites in the phone app, and high power consumption from specific apps. Touch interactions feel more polished, and a beta 4 release is expected by the end of January 2026. Samsung is clearly focused on stability and user experience as it prepares for the S26 launch.
However, it’s not all smooth sailing. The smartphone industry is currently grappling with severe supply chain constraints, especially in memory and semiconductor components. Samsung, like many of its rivals, is facing increased costs for DRAM and NAND memory—partly due to surging demand from the AI sector, which is gobbling up high-bandwidth memory (HBM) at unprecedented rates. As a result, Samsung CEO TM Roh recently acknowledged at CES 2026 that "price adjustment for mobile devices will be needed to cope with increasing memory prices." This could mean a price hike for not just smartphones, but also tablets and other devices in 2026.
Despite these challenges, Samsung’s smartphone division is on track for its best quarter in seven years, buoyed by strong sales of the S25 series. Unusually, S25 sales have defied the typical downward trend seen in Android flagships, experiencing a mid-cycle surge around the eighth and ninth months after launch. As SammyFans notes, "this kind of mid-cycle recovery is extremely rare for Galaxy S phones, especially this late into their lifespan." Samsung appears to be taking a page from Apple’s playbook, positioning its flagship as a core product throughout the year rather than letting it fade after the initial hype.
In addition to hardware, Samsung is doubling down on artificial intelligence. The company’s partnership with Google is deepening, with Gemini AI now featured across a growing number of Galaxy devices. TM Roh has stated that AI will soon be "applied to all Samsung devices," and the number of Galaxy devices equipped with Gemini is expected to surpass 800 million in 2026. Samsung is also rumored to be working with Perplexity AI to revive its Bixby assistant, potentially introducing a new "Hey Plex" voice command.
Finally, Samsung’s innovation extends beyond smartphones. At CES 2026, the company showcased new products like the 130-inch Micro RGB TV, Music Studio WiFi speakers, and the Galaxy Book 6 laptop series—each boasting AI enhancements and cutting-edge design. The company is also investing heavily in next-generation memory production, with a new P5 factory in Pyeongtaek set to focus on HBM4 memory for AI applications. This investment, totaling over $41 billion, underscores Samsung’s ambition to lead in both consumer electronics and foundational technology.
With the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung is blending evolutionary design with meaningful upgrades in charging, privacy, and AI—all while navigating a turbulent supply chain landscape. Whether these moves will be enough to maintain its edge in the hyper-competitive smartphone market remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: all eyes will be on Samsung this spring.
