Samsung is reportedly delaying the launch of its highly anticipated Galaxy S26 flagship smartphone series, aiming for a February 2026 unveiling. The Galaxy Unpacked event, set to take place in San Francisco, California, will mark the official debut of the new devices. This marks a shift from this year’s Galaxy Unpacked event, which introduced the Galaxy S25 lineup on January 22, 2025, in San Jose.
Processor Decisions to be Revealed at the Event
At this upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung is expected to clarify which application processors will power each model in the lineup. Last year, although Samsung had developed the advanced Exynos 2500 processor using a 3nm process with cutting-edge Gate-All-Around transistor technology, the launch lineup was powered exclusively by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. This was attributed to manufacturing yield challenges with Samsung Foundry's 3nm chip production.
To mitigate these supply constraints, Samsung reportedly invested $400 million to secure Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite processors for key models including the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ distributed across markets such as South Korea, Europe, Asia, and other developing regions.
Galaxy S26 Ultra: Rumored Features and Specifications
The rumored Galaxy S26 Ultra is said to feature a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display utilizing an AI-powered Flex Magic Pixel technology that restricts viewing angles, allowing only users directly in front of the device to see the screen clearly and preventing side glances. The display boasts a QHD+ resolution of 1440 x 3120 pixels, a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, 498 PPI density, and supports a variable refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz.
Under the hood, it will reportedly come with 12GB of RAM and storage options ranging from 256GB to 1TB. The chassis could incorporate a durable titanium frame along with an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor embedded beneath the screen.
Camera upgrades are expected, including a 200 MP primary rear sensor, a 50 MP ultra-wide lens, a 12 MP telephoto lens offering 3x optical zoom, and a 50 MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. The front-facing camera may feature a 12 MP sensor. Battery capacity might be increased to 5200mAh, although some sources suggest a continuation with a 5000mAh cell. Fast charging capabilities could see an improvement to 60W, enabling users to charge the battery from 0% to 80% in just 30 minutes. The device will ship with Android 16 and will be supported with seven major Android updates.
Expected Specifications for the Galaxy S26 and S26+
The Galaxy S26 model is rumored to sport a slightly larger 6.3-inch FHD+ display compared to the Galaxy S25’s 6.2-inch screen. It will retain the 19.5:9 aspect ratio with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and a variable refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz. This handset is also expected to include 12GB of RAM alongside storage capacities of 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.
For photography, the Galaxy S26 could feature a rear triple-camera setup with a 50 MP primary sensor, a 12 MP ultra-wide lens, and either a 10 MP or 12 MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, complemented by a 12 MP front-facing camera. Overall camera performance may benefit from improved low-light capabilities and software enhancements powered by AI and computational photography. Its battery may increase to 4300mAh.
The Galaxy S26+ will share similar camera specifications but will come equipped with a larger 6.7-inch QHD+ display (1440 x 3120 resolution) maintaining the 1Hz to 120Hz refresh rate range. It will also feature 12GB RAM and multiple storage options (128GB, 256GB, 512GB), with the battery likely stable at 4900mAh.
According to reports from Yonhap, the Galaxy S26 series launch may be postponed later than this year’s February 7 release date, reflecting Samsung’s strategic shifts in timing and production.
