Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Launch Expected February 25, 2026, with Likely Price Increase

Samsung is expected to unveil its Galaxy S26 flagship series on February 25, 2026, at an event in San Francisco, according to reports from South Korean media. Devices are tipped to go on sale in early March, marking a shift from Samsung’s traditional January launch window. However, the company may implement price increases due to rising component costs.

Three Models, One Scrapped Device

The 2026 lineup will include three smartphones: the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. Samsung reportedly canceled plans for a Galaxy S26 Edge after disappointing sales of its predecessor, the Galaxy S25 Edge, which failed to meet market expectations.

All S26 Ultra models globally will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, confirmed through FCC certification documents. The standard S26 and S26 Plus models may use Samsung’s Exynos 2600 chipset in South Korea only, due to low yield rates at Samsung Foundry and contractual obligations requiring 75 percent of Galaxy S phones use Snapdragon processors. The United States, China, Japan, and potentially Europe will receive Snapdragon variants across all models.

Pricing Likely to Increase

Despite earlier Galaxy S25 pricing of $799 for the base model, $999 for the Plus, and $1,299 for the Ultra, multiple reports suggest Samsung may implement price increases of $50 to $100 per model due to rising manufacturing costs. Component price increases include 12 percent for chips, 8 percent for camera modules, and 16 percent for RAM.

Industry analysts note Samsung “may not have a choice” regarding price hikes given the broader component shortage affecting the entire smartphone industry. Official pricing has not been announced.

Samsung may also eliminate its popular “double storage” pre-order promotion that traditionally offered customers free upgrades to higher capacity models. The removal of this incentive comes as global memory shortages driven by AI data center demand have pushed DRAM prices up more than 50 percent, with market trackers expecting an additional 30 to 40 percent increase throughout 2026.

60W Fast Charging Confirmed

The Galaxy S26 Ultra will support 60W fast charging, confirmed through 3C certification documents. This marks Samsung’s first increase from the 45W maximum charging speed maintained since 2019. The device will retain a 5,000mAh battery capacity while introducing “Super Fast Charging 3.0” branding.

This upgrade narrows the gap with Chinese competitors who have offered 100W+ charging for years, though Samsung remains conservative compared to brands like OnePlus and Xiaomi that support 150W charging.

Camera System Gets Optical Upgrades

Rather than sensor changes, Samsung is focusing on lens improvements for the S26 Ultra. The device will retain the 200MP ISOCELL HP2 main sensor but upgrade to a wider f/1.4 aperture from the current f/1.7 specification, allowing approximately 50 percent more light capture for improved low-light photography.

The camera system will also feature enhanced lens coatings designed to reduce lens flare and reflections, a common complaint with current Galaxy Ultra models. The quad-camera array is expected to include a 50MP ultrawide sensor, a 12MP 3x telephoto lens, and a 50MP 5x periscope zoom camera, though these specifications have not been officially confirmed.

Additional camera improvements may include variable aperture technology similar to systems used in previous Galaxy flagship devices.

Why the Timing Matters

Samsung’s rumored shift from January to February represents a strategic recalibration of its flagship release cycle. The delayed timeline allows additional development time while potentially positioning devices for unveiling during or near Mobile World Congress, though the February 25 date falls after the typical MWC schedule.

For consumers, a late February announcement with early March availability means a shorter wait between reveal and retail availability compared to previous years. However, the potential removal of the double storage promotion and likely price increases may offset enthusiasm about the new features.

Chipset Strategy Remains Controversial

Samsung’s decision to potentially limit Exynos 2600 processors to only South Korea while using Snapdragon chips in premium markets reflects ongoing concerns about Exynos performance, thermal management, and manufacturing yields. This regional split has drawn criticism from consumers who question differential treatment despite identical pricing.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 promises improved AI processing and efficiency gains, but real-world performance differences won’t be clear until independent testing after launch.

What’s Next

Samsung has not officially confirmed the February 25 launch date or any specifications. If reports prove accurate, the company is expected to reveal full specifications, color options, and storage configurations at the event, with pre-orders likely opening immediately and shipments beginning in early March.

Questions remain about software features, One UI 8 capabilities, AI enhancements powered by the new processors, and whether Samsung will introduce exclusive features for Snapdragon variants. Official pricing and regional availability timelines outside initial launch markets also await confirmation.

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