If you’ve been waiting for Samsung’s next flagship reveal, the countdown just began.
The South Korean tech giant confirmed Tuesday that Galaxy Unpacked 2026 will take place Feb. 25 in San Francisco, where the company is expected to unveil its Galaxy S26 series. The keynote kicks off at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) and will stream live on Samsung.com, YouTube, and the company’s newsroom.
This year’s Unpacked arrives notably later than Samsung’s typical January timeline for Galaxy S launches. The company hasn’t publicly explained the delay, though industry whispers point to behind-the-scenes reshuffling.
The company signaled a strong focus on artificial intelligence in its official invite, saying the event will mark “a new phase in the era of AI as intelligence becomes truly personal and adaptive.”
Expected lineup: Galaxy S26, Plus and Ultra
While Samsung has not confirmed specific products, the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra are widely expected to headline the event, continuing the same three-model strategy as previous years.
The biggest changes appear to live under the hood. All three phones are expected to run Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip in the US and China, while other regions may get Samsung’s Exynos 2600 processor, according to Yonhap News.
The base model is rumored to get a slightly larger 6.3-inch display (up from 6.2 inches on the S25) and a modest battery bump to 4,300mAh, according to specs shared by leaker Ice Universe. It’ll pack 12GB of RAM and storage options of 256GB or 512GB. Camera specs appear unchanged: a 50-megapixel main shooter, a 12-megapixel ultrawide, a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto, and a 12-megapixel selfie camera.
The Plus model seems to be getting an even lighter touch. Beyond the new Snapdragon chip, expect the same 6.7-inch display, 4,900mAh battery, and camera setup as its predecessor.
The Ultra model is where things get interesting. Android Headlines reports the phone’s cameras will sit slightly higher on the back with a new metallic finish. Samsung may also ditch the titanium frame used on the S24 and S25 Ultra models in favor of aluminum, a cost-cutting move that mirrors Apple’s recent iPhone 17 Pro decision.
The Ultra is expected to keep its 6.9-inch AMOLED display, 200-megapixel main camera, and 5,000mAh battery, but charging speeds may finally get an upgrade, 60W wired and 25W wireless.
Magnetic wireless charging remains a question mark. Engadget reports that despite the Qi2 standard supporting magnetic alignment, Samsung may not include built-in magnets in the S26 series. Dutch site Nieuwemobiel.nl, cited by Engadget, suggests that Samsung could again rely on magnetic cases rather than integrating magnets directly into the phones.
The event likely won’t be a smartphone-only affair. Leaks suggest we will see Galaxy Buds 4 and 4 Pro featuring a more compact case, less angular stems, and support for head gestures to accept or decline calls.
The company could also highlight new software capabilities, including updates to its Bixby assistant and deeper AI integrations across its ecosystem.
Pricing and pre-order perks
While official pricing and availability will be announced at the event, industry expectations suggest the base S26 could start at approximately $799, with the Ultra model reaching $1,299.
Pre-orders are expected to open Feb. 25, with devices hitting stores by mid-March.
Samsung has begun offering incentives for customers who register early, including a $30 credit and entry into a $5,000 Samsung.com gift card giveaway for eligible US participants. The company is also promising a $150 pre-order discount and up to $900 off with a trade-in.
For more on Samsung’s foldable ambitions, check out our full breakdown of the rumored pricing for its upcoming trifold device.
