Samsung Galaxy S26 launch: S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra will arrive later than usual, new design will come
The Samsung Galaxy S26 series was expected to launch in January 2026. However, according to reports, Samsung has pushed back the release of its next-generation flagship devices. Here’s why the Galaxy S26 series may be delayed, and what you can expect from Samsung’s upcoming flagship phones, including a notable design change.
Samsung Galaxy S series is one of the most awaited Android flagship devices. The S series of devices brings the best that Samsung has to offer, including the top-of-the-line Ultra model. This year, the Korean giant also launched an ultra-slim flagship device Galaxy S25 Edge.
Rumors about the Galaxy S26 series have been surfacing online for the past few weeks, giving us a glimpse of what to expect this time around. While we have some big upgrades for the next generation of Samsung flagships compared to the Galaxy S25 series, including design changes, the launch is reportedly delayed. But before we get into details about the launch timeline, let’s take a look at everything we know so far about the Samsung Galaxy S26 series.
Samsung Galaxy S26 series design
The design could be a major highlight for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series. All three models – S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra – are likely to get an integrated camera module, ditching the separate cutouts. The S26 Ultra may also introduce more rounded corners and new color options.
Samsung Galaxy S26 series performance
Under the hood, the Galaxy S26 series will likely use Qualcomm’s latest flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, albeit in select regions. Other markets can expect to get the Galaxy S26 series with the Exynos 2600 processor. Samsung will also double the AI features with this launch.
Samsung Galaxy S26 series display
On the display front, the Galaxy S26 series will continue to come with a QHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will likely feature a 6.9-inch AMOLED panel. It is also rumored that the screen will come with in-built privacy features.
The Galaxy S26 Plus is also expected to feature a 6.9-inch AMOLED display, which will bring it on par with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. For reference, the S25 Plus came with a 6.7-inch screen. While the vanilla Galaxy S26 is expected to retain the 6.2-inch panel.
Samsung Galaxy S26 series cameras
Samsung may bring some changes in terms of camera hardware for the Galaxy S26 series. The Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus may receive a new 12-megapixel 3x telephoto lens to replace the 10-megapixel unit in their predecessors. However the 50-megapixel main and 12-megapixel ultrawide are expected to remain unchanged.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra can also get an upgraded 12-megapixel 3x telephoto lens. However, the rest of the camera setup is expected to be carried over from the S25 Ultra with a 200-megapixel primary, 50-megapixel ultrawide, and 50-megapixel 5x telephoto.
Samsung Galaxy S26 series battery
According to reports, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will retain the 5,000mAh battery pack from its predecessor. However, Samsung is said to bring 60W fast charging support to the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The Galaxy S26 Plus is also likely to come with the same 4,900mAh battery that we saw in the S25 Plus. On the other hand, the vanilla Galaxy S26 may get a larger 4,300mAh battery compared to the 4,000mAh on the S25.
The Galaxy S26 series is rumored to support Qi2 wireless charging. This will essentially make the devices compatible with Apple’s MagSafe accessories.
Samsung Galaxy S26 series launch and expected price
Typically, Samsung launches the S series in January, as was the case with the Galaxy S24 and S25 lineup. However, reports have emerged that the Galaxy S26 series will be launched on February 25, 2026 in San Francisco, US. The location was reportedly chosen to emphasize the company’s focus on artificial intelligence (AI) as the US city is an AI hub.
The reason behind the rumor of the expected launch is the last-minute change in the Galaxy S26 lineup. Previously, Samsung was reportedly planning to replace the Galaxy S26 Plus with an S26 Edge model. However, the Korean giant reportedly shelved these plans after below-expected sales of the Galaxy S25 Edge.
There is no official information available regarding the price of Samsung Galaxy S26 series. However, prices may remain unchanged from last year. For reference, the Galaxy S25 was launched in India for Rs 80,999, with the Galaxy S25 Plus starting at Rs 99,999. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra price starts at Rs 1,29,999.
