The Samsung Galaxy S26 is generating buzz, with rumors suggesting a potential launch in March 2026, a departure from Samsung's typical late January/early February release schedule. This shift, if realized, would break a half-decade-long tradition for the tech giant.
Release Date Speculation
While a March launch is a possibility, other reports indicate a late January or early February unveiling, aligning with Samsung's established pattern. Some sources suggest a potential announcement in late January 2026, followed by the phones hitting stores in mid-February. A "wild rumor" in October pointed to a March release due to technical issues, but more recent leaks suggest a late January announcement is more likely. Given that Samsung has often held Galaxy S events on Wednesdays, tech enthusiasts are eyeing late January 2026 for the official unveiling.
Possible Models and Design
The Galaxy S26 lineup is expected to include the standard Galaxy S26, the Galaxy S26+, and the high-end Galaxy S26 Ultra. There was speculation about Samsung potentially eliminating the standard Galaxy S26 model, focusing on the Plus and Ultra variants to compete with Chinese brands. However, more recent information suggests that all three models are still expected. There are also rumors that Samsung might rebrand the Galaxy S26 Ultra as the "Galaxy S26 Note", reviving the Note series. The S26 and S26+ are expected to feature refreshed designs, including a new camera island.
Display and Performance
All three Galaxy S26 models are rumored to feature Samsung's next-generation M14 OLED display technology, enhancing brightness, color accuracy, and efficiency. The base Galaxy S26 could have a 6.3-inch screen, while the S26+ might sport a 6.7-inch display. Both are expected to feature Quad HD resolution. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to boast a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a potential 144Hz refresh rate and peak brightness exceeding 3,000 nits. It may also feature next-generation Corning Gorilla Glass Armor for protection and a "Privacy Display" feature, possibly called "Flex Magic Pixel".
Under the hood, the Galaxy S26 series is expected to utilize either Samsung's Exynos 2600 or Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, depending on the region. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will be tailored for Samsung flagships and manufactured using TSMC's 3nm process technology. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to be among the first phones to use new LPDDR5X RAM clocked at 10.7Gbps. The Galaxy S26 is expected to arrive with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, while some anticipate up to 16GB of RAM.
Camera Advancements
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to feature a quad-camera setup, headlined by an upgraded 200-megapixel main sensor. It will also include a new ultra-wide lens and a 50-megapixel telephoto sensor with up to 5x optical zoom. The fourth lens could be either a 12-megapixel 3x telephoto or another 50-megapixel 3x shooter. The regular Galaxy S26 and S26+ are expected to feature a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 12-megapixel 3x telephoto camera. Some rumors suggest that Samsung is planning to keep the same camera hardware as the Galaxy S25 on the standard S26 and S26+ models.
Battery and Charging
Rumors suggest the vanilla Galaxy S26 might have a slightly larger 4,300mAh battery with wireless charging upgrades and Qi2 support. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to feature a 5,200 mAh battery and support 60W wired and 25W wireless charging. Some reports suggest the potential adoption of silicon-carbon batteries in the Galaxy S26 series, potentially increasing battery capacity by 10-15% without increasing the battery size.
Other potential features
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to feature an under-display selfie camera. The Galaxy S26 series may come with One UI 8.5, which will be based on Android 16. Samsung is reportedly considering partnering with Perplexity AI for the AI on the Galaxy S26.
