(Credit: Eric Zeman/PCMag)
The Samsung Galaxy S series generates more buzz than any other Android device, and interest in these phones peaks as their usual launch date approaches. Below, we take a look at all the notable Galaxy S26 rumors we have heard so far, covering their release date, design, AI features, performance, cameras, pricing, and more. These leaks are from well-known sources, but nothing is confirmed until Samsung takes the stage at its next Unpacked event.
When Will Samsung Launch the Galaxy S26 Series?
Samsung usually unveils the Galaxy S series in late January or early February, but this year, rumors point to a slightly delayed timeline. Multiple leakers have suggested a Feb. 25, 2026, launch in San Francisco. The latest to back that date is Ice Universe, who added that the phones will begin shipping early March.
Galaxy S26 Lineup: Plus Survives, Edge Doesn't
Samsung currently offers five phones with the S25 tag: the regular S25, the S25 Plus, the S25 Ultra, the slimmer S25 Edge, and the more affordable S25 FE (Fan Edition). But for the S26 series, things could shake up a bit. Samsung may release just three phones at first, and follow it up with an FE model later.
Earlier reports suggested that the Plus variant wasn't among the preferred three. However, poor performance of the Edge reportedly forced Samsung to cancel the slim phone and retain the Plus model. A separate report also claimed that Edge may never return.
More recently, leakers provided a first look at the S26 Plus. Android Headlines tips "a flat display, thin uniform bezels, [and] a triple camera setup on the back." The biggest difference is a three-camera, vertical island in the top-left corner.
Another rumor suggested that the base variant would get rebranded as the S26 Pro, but that appears to be bogus.
Galaxy S26 Design: Imitating Apple?
Apple introduced new, rectangular camera bumps on the iPhone 17, and renders of the Galaxy S26 lineup suggest Samsung is moving in the same direction.
According to multiple leakers, the base S26 will have a vertical bump with three cameras; the S26 Edge will have a huge, end-to-end horizontal bump like on the iPhone 17 Pro Max and come with two cameras; and the S26 Ultra will have three cameras in the vertical bump, and one to its right. However, the S26 Ultra's camera bump reportedly protrudes a bit more than expected and could make the device wobble when placed on a flat surface.
Samsung may also adopt Apple's cosmic orange color for the S26 Ultra. Black shadow, white shadow, galactial blue, and ultraviolet are some of the other rumored colors.
Another reported design change focuses on the S Pen stylus. The S25 Ultra is the only Galaxy S model that includes and supports the S Pen; however, it dropped support for Bluetooth and Air Actions. It's also not fully compatible with the Qi2 wireless charging standard because some magnetic accessories can interfere with the S Pen digitizer, according to SamMobile. Instead, it's "Qi2 ready," meaning it's compatible with magnetized cases that work with Qi2 chargers. So, Samsung is reportedly revamping its stylus tech to allow for Qi2 accessories beyond cases. Per a new leak, the stylus will now take an asymmetrical design.
When it comes to screen size, rumors point to a slightly larger display for the S26 Pro, going from 6.2 inches to 6.27 inches, while the other phones are expected to retain their screen ratios.
- Galaxy S26: 6.27 inches
- Galaxy S26 Plus: 6.7 inches
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 6.9 inches
Galaxy S26: Software and AI
Google's Gemini AI currently features prominently on Galaxy devices, but Samsung is reportedly in talks to integrate Perplexity into Galaxy S26 phones. According to sources speaking to Bloomberg, Samsung wants to preload Perplexity on its phones and also integrate the company's search functionality directly into its Internet Browser. (Motorola added Perplexity to its new Motorola Razr series in April.) A recent leak also suggested Samsung was testing the Perplexity-powered Bixby with its One UI 8.5 update.
When it comes to software, the Galaxy S26 series will come with One UI 8 (or 8.5) and Android 16 out of the box, which are already available on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Z Flip 7.
Galaxy S26: Performance
(Credit: Qualcomm)The Samsung Galaxy S26 series is expected to run the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. According to Qualcomm's tests, the chip is 20% faster and 35% more power efficient than its predecessor, which was already quite powerful. In our tests, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 4 chip for Galaxy S25 Ultra topped competitors like iPhone 16 Pro Max and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL in single-core and multi-core performance.
According to Tom's Guide, Samsung will continue to load the base S26 and the S26 Plus with an Exynos chip in certain markets. It could be the latest Exynos 2600 chip. However, when it comes to the S26 Ultra, Samsung will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset on all units sold globally.
About the phones' RAM capacity, one rumor suggests that all three phones will get 16GB of RAM, a 4GB bump from the previous generation. Ice Universe, however, counters that claim, stating all three variants will start with 12GB of RAM.
Galaxy S26 Cameras
Some Samsung fans have expressed frustration with the S series cameras lately, and it doesn't appear that the S26 will be a significant upgrade on that front. Expect the base Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus to retain their existing setup, with a 50MP wide lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP 3x telephoto lens.
As for the S26 Ultra, Android Headlines reports it's expected to retain the 200MP primary camera but with a larger f/1.4 aperture. There's an unlikely rumor about a 324MP main camera.
That said, these phones might not need much of a bump. As PCMag's camera analyst Jim Fisher noted in our S25 Ultra review, "Really, what the heck are people using phone cameras for [that would require] going beyond 50MP practically? Heck, I’d argue that 12MP is the right setting for the vast majority."
Galaxy S26: Battery and Charging
As mentioned before, Samsung's reportedly planning to offer true Qi2 charging on the S26 series. So far, the flagship lineup hasn't had magnets at the back, like iPhones do, so they haven't been able to make full use of the wireless charging standard.
However, an image of the dummies shared by leaker Sonny Dickson indicates Samsung's finally making room for magnetic rings at the back. If the company adopts the newer Qi2.2 standard, we may see a major boost in wireless charging speeds, from the current limit of 15W to 25W.
As for wired charging speeds, leaker Ice Universe reports an upgrade for the S26 Ultra. It may go from 45W on the S25 Ultra to up to 60W on the upcoming device. Samsung has already begun listing the 60W adapter. PandFlashPro reports a similar bump in battery capacity as well, from 5,000 mAh to 5,400 mAh.
The base S26 and the S26, meanwhile, are expected to have battery capacities of 4,300 mAh and 4,900 mAH, respectively.
Galaxy S26: Pricing
Shortage of DDR RAM is expected to raise the prices of phones and laptops this year, and Samsung's CEO has all but confirmed this for the Galaxy S26 series. "As this situation is unprecedented, no company is immune to its impact," TM Roh told Reuters recently.
Sources tell South Korea's fnnews that this would translate to a hike of $40 to $60 for each S26 phone with 256GB storage. Rounding off the figure to $50 would mean $850 for the S26 (128GB), $950 for the S26 Plus (256GB), and $1,350 for the S26 Ultra (256GB).