Updated January 7, 2026: Reliable leaker Evan Blass has now "100%" confirmed the February 25 launch date, stating "you can take it to the bank." Samsung has officially decided to freeze Galaxy S26 pricing at $799/$999/$1,299 to remain competitive with Apple.
If you've been eyeing Samsung's next big thing, mark your calendar for February 25, 2026. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is set for a February 25 unveiling in San Francisco, with retail availability expected around March 11-13 following Samsung's typical two-week pre-order period.
This strategic four-week delay from Samsung's typical January launch gives the company extra time to finalize what could be one of the most significant smartphone upgrades of 2026.
See more - iPhone Fold: Everything We Know So Far
Galaxy S26 Ultra Specs at a Glance
Display: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED, potentially 144Hz refresh rate, ~3,000 nits peak brightness, M14 OLED, Flex Magic Pixel privacy feature
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm, globally for Ultra model only)
Memory & Storage: 12GB RAM standard, storage options of 256GB/512GB/1TB with UFS 4.1
Camera System: 200MP main (f/1.4 aperture), 50MP ultrawide, 50MP 5x periscope telephoto, 12MP 3x telephoto, 12MP front camera
Battery & Charging: 5,000-5,200mAh battery, 60W wired charging (up from 45W), 25W wireless charging (up from 15W), full Qi2 support with built-in magnets
Design: Rounded corners, flat edges, 4.5mm camera bump, aluminum frame, built-in S Pen
Software: One UI 8.5, Android 16, Galaxy AI 2.0 features
Colors: Black Shadow, White Shadow, Galactial Blue, Ultraviolet
What's New This Year
The Galaxy S26 Edge is officially cancelled. Samsung is simplifying its lineup to just three models: the standard S26, S26 Plus, and flagship S26 Ultra.
The S26 Ultra will exclusively feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 globally, while the standard S26 and S26 Plus use a dual-chip strategy with Exynos 2600 in Europe, Asia, and India.
Samsung is also ditching titanium for an aluminum frame, which offers approximately 20 times better thermal conductivity. The phone is expected to weigh around 214 grams, down from the S25 Ultra's 218 grams.
Key Upgrades
Charging: The phone jumps from 45W to 60W wired charging, with wireless charging increasing from 15W to 25W. Full Qi2 support with built-in magnets finally brings MagSafe-like functionality to Samsung's flagship.
Camera: Multiple sources point to a wider f/1.4 aperture for the primary camera (up from f/1.7), which could mean up to 50% more light capture. A new 12MP 3x telephoto replaces the aging 10MP sensor.
Display: According to FN News, the AI-powered Privacy Display feature may extend to all S26 models, not just the Ultra. Users can configure it to activate automatically based on specific apps or when away from home.
Software: One UI 8.5 Beta 3 rolled out on January 5, 2026, with Beta 4 expected in late January. Samsung is also revamping Bixby with Perplexity AI integration for smarter, research-backed responses.
Pricing
Samsung has confirmed it will freeze pricing for the fourth consecutive year. The Galaxy S26 starts at $799, the S26 Plus at $999, and the S26 Ultra at $1,299 in the US. Samsung reportedly decided to absorb a 10-15% hit to profit margins rather than risk losing market share.
Should You Wait?
If you're rocking a Galaxy S24 Ultra or newer, waiting makes sense for the meaningful upgrades in charging speed, camera optics, Qi2 magnetic charging, and enhanced AI capabilities.
But if your current phone is struggling or you're coming from an older model like the S22 Ultra, the Galaxy S25 Ultra remains an excellent choice that will likely see significant discounts once the S26 arrives in March.
