Samsung confirmed its Galaxy Unpacked event for February 25 in San Francisco, where the company will unveil the Galaxy S26 series. The announcement follows months of leaks that revealed most specifications and design details ahead of the official launch.
The event begins at 10 a.m. PT and will stream live on Samsung's website and YouTube channel. Reservations opened immediately after the announcement, offering a $30 credit and entry into a $5,000 contest.
Customers can expect up to $900 in trade-in savings or $150 discounts without trade-ins.
Samsung's Galaxy S26 lineup includes three models: the standard S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. All three devices feature updated camera modules that resemble the Galaxy Z Fold 7's design, moving away from ring-style cutouts. The Ultra model shows more rounded corners and will be available in purple alongside traditional black, white, and silver options.
Wireless Power Consortium filings indicate the S26 series lacks built-in Qi2 magnetic hardware. Instead of Apple-style magnetic alignment for wireless charging, users will need magnetic cases for similar functionality. This omission comes as competitors increasingly standardize magnetic charging ecosystems.
Processor strategy varies by region. The S26 Ultra will use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the United States and China, while Samsung's Exynos 2600 chip powers devices in other markets. The standard S26 and S26 Plus may follow similar regional distribution patterns.
Camera specifications show minimal upgrades from the previous generation. The S26 Ultra maintains a 200-megapixel main camera, 50-megapixel ultrawide, 10-megapixel 3x telephoto, and 50-megapixel 5x periscope lens. The S26 and S26 Plus reportedly keep their predecessor's 50-megapixel main, 12-megapixel ultrawide, and 10-megapixel 3x telephoto setup.
Display technology features narrow bezels with advanced Gorilla Glass protection across all models, with the S26 Ultra expected to use a newer generation of display protection technology.
The S26 Ultra includes a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x panel with 120Hz refresh rate, while the S26 Plus offers a 6.7-inch display. Samsung confirmed a new privacy protection feature that prevents others from viewing screens from angles, protecting sensitive information like passwords.
Battery capacity reaches 5,000mAh in the Ultra model with support for 60W wired charging and 25W wireless charging. Storage options start at 256GB across the lineup, phasing out the 128GB base model. RAM configurations include 12GB for standard models and up to 16GB for the Ultra variant.
Pricing remains unconfirmed but industry speculation suggests the S26 Ultra may start around $1,299 for the 256GB model. Samsung standardized the base storage to enhance premium positioning while potentially increasing prices due to rising component costs.
In India, prices could begin at ₹1,34,999 for the 256GB variant.
Samsung markets the S26 series as an "agentic AI" phone that moves beyond separate AI tools toward a cohesive system learning from user behavior. The company emphasizes frictionless experiences and simplified everyday interactions through deeper AI integration.
Retail sales are expected to begin around March 11, following the February 25 announcement. The delayed February launch represents a shift from Samsung's traditional January timing for flagship releases, potentially affecting the competitive landscape against upcoming Android devices like the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
