Samsung Galaxy S26 series: Everything we know about the flagships so far

From Snapdragon Elite chips and stacked batteries to pricing concerns, early rumours paint a mixed picture of Samsung’s next S-series.

One of the largest uncertainties regarding the Galaxy S26 is its price. A worldwide memory deficit primarily fueled by demand from the AI sector may greatly affect prices.(Image: X/ Jay)

As Samsung gears up for its next flagship series, the Galaxy S26, a steady stream of leaks has begun to shape our understanding of what to expect. Although the company has not officially announced anything about the launch of Galaxy S26, past launch patterns and recent rumours provide a fairly clear picture of potential design changes, camera upgrades, battery enhancements, and possible price hikes.

Here’s a breakdown of everything currently known about the Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup based on existing leaks and speculation.

Samsung typically reveals its Galaxy S series in the winter, and it seems the Galaxy S26 will follow this trend. The Galaxy S24 was launched in late January, succeeded by the Galaxy S25 in early February, indicating that the Galaxy S26 is likely to be released in early 2026.

Initial design leaks for the Galaxy S26 Ultra suggest a device closely resembling its predecessor, the S25 Ultra, but with one notable feature: a prominent camera protrusion. This design change, reflecting features seen in Samsung’s latest foldable devices, positions the camera housing on the left side of the phone, potentially causing it to wobble when placed flat on a surface. However, the reliability of these leaks is uncertain, as some sources indicate a flatter rear design without significant camera protrusion, raising questions about the final design.

At first, there were rumours that Samsung would make major changes to the Galaxy S series, planning to rename the standard model to Galaxy S26 Pro, remove the Plus model, and launch a new Edge version. Nonetheless, it seems these plans have been set aside in favour of a more traditional method.

Recent data indicates that Samsung will continue with its conventional model designations: Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. This shift to a well-known branding approach allegedly comes after Apple’s success in enhancing its basic iPhone models without increasing prices, leading Samsung to choose a simpler lineup as a more cautious tactic.

One of the largest uncertainties regarding the Galaxy S26 is its price. A worldwide memory deficit primarily fueled by demand from the AI sector may greatly affect prices.

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According to leaks, Samsung may not only increase prices but also drop one of its most popular launch incentives: free storage upgrades. Traditionally, buyers who pre-order a Galaxy phone receive double the storage at no extra charge. With RAM and storage supplies under pressure, that perk may disappear.

In short, Galaxy S26 phones could be more expensive, and higher storage tiers may no longer come bundled as a free upgrade.

Performance and Specs

The Samsung Galaxy S26 series is expected to include Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, with differences in chip accessibility in various regions. Discussions are ongoing about possibly incorporating an Exynos processor, probably the Exynos 2600, for specific models, but actual performance evaluations will be crucial.

An important enhancement is anticipated in RAM, with every model slated to feature 16GB, the highest standard since the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Storage options will mostly stay the same, with the standard Galaxy S26 beginning at 128GB and the Ultra variant at 256GB, as well as additional higher configurations.

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Battery advancements appear encouraging, especially with a rumoured stacked battery configuration that may offer greater capacity without enlarging the device’s dimensions. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is said to feature a 5,500mAh battery, reflecting an estimated 10% boost compared to the previous model, while the standard version’s capacity could be about 4,300mAh, lower than previous predictions.

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Charging speeds are anticipated to remain in line with earlier models, sustaining 45W for wired charging, whereas wireless charging could improve to the Qi2 standard.

Camera specifications reveal a varied landscape, with speculation indicating that the Ultra variant will retain the 200MP primary camera featuring a new ISOCELL sensor. It may also include features such as variable aperture and a dual periscope zoom offering 8x optical magnification. On the other hand, the regular Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus might receive only slight enhancements, retaining a triple-camera configuration of a 50MP wide lens, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto lens.

The Galaxy S26 series is expected to come equipped with the newest Android version and Samsung’s revamped One UI interface, possibly introducing a refreshed One UI 8.5 that includes new transparent designs and privacy features. Moreover, the S-Pen is likely to remain integrated, with improvements in magnetic accessory compatibility and wireless charging, potentially aligning with the Qi2 standard.