Samsung Galaxy S26 Launches February 25: The AI-Powered Flagship That Redefines Mobile Innovation

Quick Brief

• Samsung confirms February 25, 2026 Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco at 10 AM PT
• Galaxy S26 Ultra features 200MP main camera with 50MP ultrawide and dual telephoto lenses
• All models start with 12GB LPDDR5X RAM at 10.7Gbps with improved storage options
• Pre-orders begin February 26 with retail availability starting March 11, 2026

Samsung has officially confirmed its Galaxy Unpacked event for February 25, 2026, at 10 AM PT in San Francisco, where it will unveil the Galaxy S26 series. The company promises “The Next AI Phone Makes Your Life Easier” as the central theme for three flagship models designed around enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities. Pre-orders open February 26, with retail availability starting March 11 across multiple global markets.

Three Models Built for Different Performance Needs

Samsung maintains its traditional flagship lineup with the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra. The S26 features a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 2340 x 1080 resolution, while the S26+ expands to 6.7 inches at 3120 x 1440 pixels. The Ultra dominates with a 6.9-inch QHD+ panel at 3120 x 1440 resolution, all three protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 and running at 120Hz adaptive refresh rates.

The processor split creates distinct performance tiers. European and select markets receive the Exynos 2600 Samsung’s first 2nm chipset in the S26 and S26+ models. The S26 Ultra ships globally with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, featuring overclocked Prime CPU cores reaching 4.74 GHz.

All Galaxy S26 models now start with a minimum of 12GB LPDDR5X RAM running at 10.7Gbps, eliminating the 8GB option from previous generations. The S26 and S26+ offer two storage configurations: 12GB/256GB and 12GB/512GB. The S26 Ultra provides three options in most markets: 12GB/256GB, 12GB/512GB, and 12GB/1TB, with select markets like China receiving 16GB/1TB variants.

Camera System Separates Ultra from Standard Models

The S26 and S26+ share identical triple-camera setups: a 50MP main sensor (f/1.8, 1/1.56″, OIS), 10MP 3x telephoto (f/2.4, OIS), and 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 120° field of view). Video recording maxes out at 8K@30fps with 10-bit HDR support.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra escalates significantly with a quad-camera array. The 200MP primary sensor uses f/1.4 aperture and a 1/1.3″ sensor size. A 50MP periscope telephoto delivers 5x optical zoom at f/2.8, complementing the 10MP 3x telephoto shared with other models. The 50MP ultrawide (f/1.9) adds autofocus capability, addressing a limitation from previous Ultra models.

Front-facing cameras remain consistent across all three: 12MP sensors with f/2.2 aperture, dual-pixel PDAF, and 4K@60fps recording capabilities.

Battery Capacity and Charging Specifications

The Galaxy S26 receives a 300mAh boost to 4,300mAh compared to its predecessor. The S26+ maintains a 4,900mAh cell, while the Ultra holds at 5,000mAh. Charging speeds differentiate the lineup: 25W for S26, 45W for S26+, and 60W for S26 Ultra.

All three support wireless charging but lack built-in magnets for the Qi2 standard, requiring separate magnetic cases for MagSafe-style accessories. Each model includes reverse wireless charging for compatible devices.

One UI 8.5 Brings Enhanced Galaxy AI Features

Samsung preloads Android 16 with One UI 8.5, making the S26 series the first devices to ship with this combination. The stable One UI 8.5 update releases on March 11 alongside the phones. Samsung promises seven years of OS updates and security patches for the entire S26 lineup.

One UI 8.5 introduces several exclusive Galaxy AI features at launch. Meeting Assist provides real-time translation of meeting conversations and presentation screens. Touch Assist improves reading efficiency by processing text displayed on the screen. A Smart Clipboard feature offers recommendations for commonly used functions including Summarize, Correct, Translate, Copy, and Search.

The Social Composer helps users generate posts and captions based on uploaded images, and can generate product reviews based on shopping app purchases. Additionally, AI notification summaries using Samsung’s in-house Gauss model will remain exclusive to the Galaxy S26 series at launch, providing users with condensed summaries of notifications from the past 24 hours.

One UI 8.5 also adds Privacy Display technology. The anti-peep screen adjusts viewing angles to prevent shoulder surfing in public spaces, automatically detecting when multiple faces appear in the front camera’s field of view.

Partial screen recording arrives with One UI 8.5, allowing users to select specific app windows or regions rather than capturing the entire display. The Gallery app receives upgraded Photo Assist capabilities that let users apply AI edits to images without saving each iteration.

Pricing Across Global Markets

European pricing has been confirmed through leaks: €999 for the Galaxy S26, €1,269 for the S26+, and €1,469 for the S26 Ultra.

US pricing is expected to follow Samsung’s traditional structure at approximately $799 for the base S26, $999 for the S26+, and $1,299 for the S26 Ultra based on industry estimates.

Indian pricing for the base Galaxy S26 is estimated to start around ₹79,990 for the 12GB/256GB variant. Pricing for the S26+ and S26 Ultra in India has not been officially confirmed, though estimates suggest the S26+ will cost around ₹99,990 and the S26 Ultra around ₹1,29,999 based on historical pricing patterns.

Pre-reservation offers in India include trade-in bonuses and promotional incentives for customers who register before February 25. Similar launch promotions are expected in other markets.

Design Refinements Focus on Ergonomics

The Galaxy S26 series achieves lighter and thinner profiles than predecessors. The S26 measures 149.5 x 71.5 x 6.9mm and weighs 164g. The S26+ dimensions have not been fully confirmed but sources indicate approximately 191g weight. The S26 Ultra measures 163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9mm and weighs 214g 0.3mm thinner and 4g lighter than the S25 Ultra.

All three models feature an in-display fingerprint sensor, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, and IP68 water and dust resistance. Color options include White, Blue, Black, and Purple across the lineup. Samsung eliminates the 128GB base storage tier all models now start at 256GB minimum.

S26 vs S25: Key Hardware Improvements

Screen sizes remain identical to the S25 series, with resolution and refresh rates unchanged. The S26’s primary hardware improvements include the upgraded Exynos 2600 processor in select markets and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the Ultra. Display peak brightness reaches 2,600 nits across all models.

The S26’s camera hardware stays consistent with the S25 for base and Plus models, though the Ultra’s 50MP ultrawide with autofocus represents a meaningful upgrade. Battery capacity increases only in the base S26 model, which gains 300mAh. All models now start with 12GB RAM as standard, eliminating previous 8GB configurations.

The thinner and lighter chassis design across the lineup provides improved ergonomics without sacrificing battery capacity or camera capabilities. Software features through One UI 8.5 and Galaxy AI represent the most significant functional upgrades over last year’s devices.

Considerations Before Purchasing

The lack of Qi2 magnetic wireless charging requires third-party cases for magnetic accessory compatibility. The S26 and S26+ continue using the previous-generation camera system from the S25, limiting improvements primarily to software processing. Charging speeds remain conservative compared to Chinese competitors offering 100W+ charging at similar price points.

Regional processor fragmentation continues, with Exynos 2600 users in Europe potentially experiencing different performance characteristics compared to Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 users globally. The absence of radical hardware redesigns may not satisfy users expecting significant visual changes from the S25 series.

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