Samsung Galaxy S26 series to launch soon; here’s everything we know so far

Samsung is all set to launch its S series of flagships early next year, and as we get closer to the launch, the excitement just keeps doubling and tripling. Rumours have it that Samsung may launch the successor to the existing Galaxy S25, likely dubbed Galaxy S26, in the first quarter of 2026, with key upgrades. Here’s everything we know so far.

Samsung Galaxy S26: Expected specs, features

Initially, Samsung will launch three models of the Galaxy S26 series, likely called the S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. Some reports suggest that the Plus will replace the Edge, while other reports mention the next Edge’s launch may happen later.

Design-wise, Samsung may simply refine the look of the S26 and the S26 Plus, but the S26 Ultra may get a redesign. It may ditch its boxy design for curvy aesthetics. It will still be the larger phone in the lineup and is expected to have a 6.9-inch display.

The S26 and S26 Plus may get the 50MP ISOCELL SKGNG main sensor and a 12MP ISOCELL S5K3LD telephoto unit. The ultrawide on these will remain the same as the predecessor, i.e., a 12MP unit.

The Galaxy S26 will remain compact, whereas the Plus will come as a mid-variant. Performance will likely be similar on all phones; however, this time, Samsung plans to use the Exynos 2600 for several markets. The South Korean giant may use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC in limited regions. It’s unclear which chipset the Indian models will receive.

Coming to the cameras, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may receive an upgrade to its 200MP main sensor, while the ultrawide and 5x periscope telephoto sensors may remain unchanged. Samsung may offer a new 12MP telephoto unit that offers 3x zoom.

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Samsung may finally bump up the battery size this time, and the S26 Ultra may feature a larger 5,400mAh cell, as opposed to the 5,000mAh capacity of the predecessor. The S26 and S26 Plus may house a 4,300 and a 4,900mAh cell, respectively.

Samsung is expected to go all out on AI this time, as the trio may come with all the top-tier AI features via One UI 8.5. Android 16 will be underneath it.

Samsung Galaxy S26 series launch timeline

Alright, let’s clear the fuss about the launch timeline. The Galaxy S26 series is expected to launch in February 2026, as it has another event set in January, likely to showcase the Z TriFold and other AI-powered tech.

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Upon this special event, we’ll have Unpacked in February. Although Samsung hasn’t confirmed the exact launch date, rumours suggest a possible launch date of February 25, 2026.

Samsung Galaxy S26 series expected price

As for pricing, Samsung may not change the starting price of the Galaxy S26 lineup; however, the Ultra model may get a price hike. As of now, the Galaxy S25 lineup starts at Rs 80,999, with the S25 Ultra starting at Rs 1,29,999. The S25 Plus is priced at Rs 99,999.

Notably, the S25 Ultra is way cheaper than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which is its direct competitor. It’s not just the iPhone that the S26 Ultra will rival; it will also go against the likes of the Pixel 10 Pro XL, Oppo Find X9 Pro, and Vivo X300 Pro.

Based on these details, what do you think about the Galaxy S26 series? Are you planning to buy it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.