Samsung has officially confirmed that the Galaxy S26 series will launch on February 25.
The company has opened pre-reservations, offering a $30 or €30 discount to users who sign up for an email notification. This is part of a promotional campaign ahead of the official unveiling.
While Samsung has not confirmed specifications, numerous consistent leaks outline what to expect, particularly from the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
One of the most discussed rumored features is a per-pixel privacy display for the S26 Ultra. Unlike traditional laptop privacy screens that restrict visibility across the entire panel, this implementation would allow selective popups to be made private.
For example, unlock codes received via text could be made difficult to view from side angles. One UI 8.5 is expected to include smart controls that enable or disable the feature automatically depending on location, such as activating it outside the home.
The S26 Ultra is also expected to feature a 10-bit panel, replacing the 8-bit panels used in previous Samsung flagships. The display is said to measure 6.9 inches with 1440p+ resolution and adaptive 1-120Hz LTPO refresh rate.
A new high-strength Gorilla Glass variant, likely an updated Gorilla Glass Armor with anti-reflection treatment, is also rumored.
Samsung is expected to support the Qi2 Magnetic Profile standard. However, magnets will not be built into the phone itself.
Users will need compatible magnetic cases to attach wireless chargers or accessories such as car mounts.
Samsung has already released a 60W charger (model EP-T6010NBEGWW), supporting USB-PD and PPS standards. A new magnetic power bank (model EB-U2500) is also expected, priced around €60 in Europe, featuring a kickstand and 15W wireless output.
Despite charging upgrades, the S26 Ultra is expected to retain a 5,000mAh battery, the same capacity used since the Galaxy S20 Ultra.
Rumors of a 5,200mAh variant have circulated, though even that increase would be minimal compared to competitors adopting silicon-carbon battery technology.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 globally. Earlier speculation about Exynos variants in Korea appears to have been dismissed by benchmark listings. The S26 and S26+ are still expected to use Exynos 2600 in some regions.
Memory options are expected to include 12GB RAM standard, with a 16GB option, and storage tiers of 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.
The S26 Ultra is expected to include:
Lenses are said to feature improved anti-flare coating.
There were rumors of a return to variable aperture, last seen on the Galaxy S9 and S10, though confirmation is unclear.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra may include a full Linux terminal via Android Virtualization Framework (AVF).
Snapdragon chips historically lacked AVF support, so it remains unclear how Samsung would enable this feature if confirmed.
Samsung is teasing “something smarter” for the S26 launch.
The S26 series is expected to feature a more advanced version of Bixby with agentic AI capabilities, allowing it to interact with third-party apps such as HERE Maps, Uber, and The Weather Channel to perform tasks on behalf of users.
The S26 Ultra is expected to be slightly thinner and lighter at 7.9mm and 214g (down from 8.2mm and 218g).
A small raised area around the camera lenses is expected. Color options reportedly include Black, White, Silver Shadow, Sky Blue, Cobalt Violet, and Pink Gold. The S Pen will continue to be included, with no reported feature removals or additions.
The base 12GB/256GB Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to be the same as the S25 Ultra. Higher storage tiers may see small price increases.
Samsung is expected to offer standard pre-order incentives such as storage upgrades and trade-in bonuses.
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution: 3120 × 1440 pixels (1440p+) | |
| Refresh Rate: 1–120Hz (LTPO) | |
| Color Depth: 10-bit panel | |
| Protection: Corning Gorilla Armor 2 (high-strength glass) | |
| Software | One UI 8.5 |
| Android 16 | |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Octa-Core CPU: 2× 4.74 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6× 3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M | |
| Memory & Storage | 12GB / 16GB RAM |
| 256GB / 512GB / 1TB Storage | |
| Rear Cameras | 200MP main, f/1.4, 24mm, 1/1.3″, 0.6µm, Multidirectional PDAF, OIS |
| 50MP periscope telephoto, f/2.8, 111mm, 1/2.52″, 5× optical zoom, PDAF, OIS | |
| 50MP ultrawide, f/1.9, 120°, 1/2.5″, Dual-Pixel PDAF | |
| 10MP telephoto, 1/3.94″, 3× optical zoom, PDAF, OIS | |
| Video: 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | |
| HDR10+, 10-bit HDR, Stereo sound, Gyro-EIS | |
| Front Camera | 12MP wide, f/2.2, 26mm |
| 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | |
| Battery | 5,000mAh Li-ion |
| 60W wired charging | |
| 25W wireless charging | |
| Connectivity | 5G |
| Wi-Fi 7 (be) | |
| Bluetooth 5.4 | |
| NFC | |
| USB-C | |
| Dual SIM (Nano/Nano/eSIM) | |
| Navigation / Satellite | GLONASS, GPS, Galileo, QZSS, BDS |
| Sensors | Gyroscope |
| E-compass | |
| Accelerometer | |
| Barometer | |
| Fingerprint Sensor | |
| Proximity Sensor | |
| Dimensions | 163.6 × 78.1 × 7.9 mm |
| Weight | 214g |
| Colors | Black |
| White | |
| Silver Shadow | |
| Sky Blue | |
| Cobalt Violet | |
| Pink Gold | |
| Starting Price (Expected) | From €1,470 |
