Focus is shifting towards the Samsung Galaxy S26 and 2026, now the Galaxy S25 series and Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 launches are out of the way.
Samsung introduced us to a new member of the family in 2025 with the arrival of the super-slim Galaxy S25 Edge , and we expect the South Korean giant to continue the trend into 2026 with a Galaxy S26 Edge lining up in the next flagship series.
So just how many S26 models do we expect Samsung to launch, will we finally see massive design changes, and how will Samsung set itself up off the back of the Google Pixel 10 and iPhone 17 series due to arrive in the second half of 2025?
Let the speculation begin!
Latest Samsung Galaxy S26 news
- August 4: Report suggests the Galaxy S26 will feature improved NFC performance
- August 1: Galaxy S26 Edge could be thinner, with a bigger battery
When will the Samsung Galaxy S26 launch?
Samsung has not confirmed a Galaxy S26 launch date or release date, but if we look back at previous Samsung launches we can get an idea of when it could arrive.
Both the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S24 series were announced at Galaxy Unpacked events in January of 2025 and 2024 respectively. We’d expect Samsung to follow the same pattern, which would place the Galaxy S26 launch date towards the end of January 2026.
The previous three S series launch events have taken place on a Wednesday, so we could be looking at January 21 or January 28 2026 for the announcement.
As for the Galaxy S26 release date – when it the phones will actually be available – the trend has been for them to arrive roughly two weeks after the launch event, so we could be looking at early February for the on-sale date.
Previous Galaxy S series launches
| Launch Date | Release Date | |
| Galaxy S25 series | January 22, 2025 | February 7, 2025 |
| Galaxy S24 series | January 17, 2024 | January 31, 2024 |
| Galaxy S23 series | February 1, 2023 | February 17, 2023 |
How many Galaxy S26 phones will there be?
With the Galaxy S25 series, we got three phones launched together in January 2025: the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus and Galaxy S25 Ultra. They were then followed by the super-slim Galaxy S25 Edge in May 2025.
The current thinking is Samsung will likely refresh all four handsets at the same time, which points towards a quartet of new phones come January 2026.
Our expected Galaxy S26 line-up
- Samsung Galaxy S26
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge
Samsung Galaxy S26 rumors
Samsung Galaxy S26 rumors are, unsurprisingly, low in volume right now, although they will grow as we approach launch.
A March 2025 report suggested Samsung won’t rely exclusively on Qualcomm for the Galaxy S26 series chipsets, as it has done for the Galaxy S25 handsets.
Previously, Samsung has used a combination of Qualcomm and its own Exynos chips depending on the device and region. By re-introducing Exynos chips in the Galaxy S26 lineup, Samsung would lessen its reliance on Qualcomm. However, Exynos chips are historically seen as inferior, and whatever mix of chips Samsung uses might be viewed similarly .
Another rumor claims Samsung might replace the 10MP 3x optical telephoto camera with a new sensor. While the 200MP main, 50MP wide-angle, and 50MP 5x telephoto cameras are expected to remain a carryover from the current Galaxy S25 Ultra , the 10MP 3x zoom could be replaced by an unknown megapixel fourth sensor.
It wouldn’t be surprising for Samsung to tweak a few cameras on the next Galaxy A Ultra. It focuses on upgrading different camera aspects with each new Ultra model. For example, the S25 Ultra upgraded the wide-angle camera to 50MP, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra introduced the 200MP primary camera.
At least one rumor suggested the next Galaxy S Ultra could offer an under-display front-facing camera system, but that has largely been debunked .
Several other rumors about the Galaxy S26 series, specifically the Galaxy S26 Ultra, have surfaced, but many seem more like speculation than confirmed information .
Among these are discussions that the series could offer new battery technology and faster wired charging and that the phone might feature advanced face scanning similar to Apple’s Face ID. Additionally, it’s speculated that the new flagship will be thinner than other models and have a brighter display.
We’ve also seen rumors appear on the Galaxy S26 Edge, Samsung’s expected next super-slim flagship, with reports pointing to an even thinner frame, but also a larger battery .
Meanwhile, another report suggest the Galaxy S26 series will benefit from an NFC antenna, providing better connectivity for contactless payments over the traditional NFC coil on the back of the phones (which is also said to be present in the S26 devices).
Samsung Galaxy S26: what we want to see
We have some initial thoughts regarding the Galaxy S26 series. While it remains uncertain whether any of these hopes will materialize, we are eager to see what developments may come to light.
Improved charging on cheaper models
Is it unreasonable to expect Samsung to enhance charging for the more affordable Galaxy S models? We don’t think so. Upgrades to both wired and wireless charging would certainly increase user comfort and everyday efficiency. Faster wired charging would greatly reduce downtime, allowing users to recharge their devices quickly during brief moments, particularly in emergencies or busy schedules. Moreover, enhancements in wireless charging would lead to a more seamless cable-free charging experience.
Improved cameras across the board
Whether it’s Samsung, Apple, or another smartphone provider, camera upgrades are nearly always certain year in and year out — at least on the best models these companies have to offer. Less expensive models, such as the regular iPhone and Galaxy S, however, tend to see fewer camera upgrades year over year. We certainly don’t expect this to change for Samsung in 2026, but we can still hope.
Smartphones are expensive, even entry-level models, so it’s not asking too much for even those models to see significant camera improvements from generation to generation. Perhaps Samsung will make this a reality next year.
Get rid of the Plus model
Samsung launched the Galaxy S25 Edge in May. And Apple is tipped to reveal the iPhone Air in September. Together, the two smartphones will usher in a new era of sleek smartphones from the top two phone producers. However, the giants are introducing these models in two different ways.
Apple, which already offers four phones in its primary lineup, is reportedly replacing the iPhone Plus with the iPhone Air starting with the iPhone 17 series this fall. In contrast, Samsung is increasing its primary phone lineup from three to four units.
While nothing is certain, the Galaxy S26 series could feature four models once again (Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, Galaxy S26 Edge, and Galaxy S26 Ultra); however, it could also reduce the lineup to three by removing the Galaxy S Plus from the 2026 lineup.
That’s what Samsung should do, although much will probably depend on the popularity of the Galaxy S25 Edge and ultimately the iPhone 17 Air.
Due to lead times, there will likely still be a Galaxy S Plus in 2026, although what happens a year later is far less certain. Regardless, less is better in this case, in our humble opinion, giving Samsung more time to concentrate on the models that remain.
A noticeable design makeover
As a site focused on the tech industry, we enjoy seeing and discussing design makeovers, especially for smartphones. However, we’re also realistic and recognize that companies like Samsung understand that most consumers prefer to stick with familiar designs rather than spend their hard-earned money on a new design that may or may not succeed. This is likely why the Galaxy S25 Edge will have limited initial production quotas, allowing Samsung time to assess its popularity.
That said, Samsung needs to consider making a huge design change on at least one model in the Galaxy S26 series. The last time it significantly changed the look of its main Galaxy S series of phones was with the release of the Galaxy S21 nearly five years ago, so expecting some significant change probably isn’t asking too much. Of course, it should start with the Galaxy S26 Ultra since it will be the company’s next flagship.
What design change should that be? Samsung should look to the Galaxy S25 Edge for inspiration, but ultimately make it unique to the Galaxy S Ultra.
Make Galaxy AI more useful
In January, Galaxy AI will celebrate its second anniversary. Samsung’s suite of on-device and cloud-based AI features was once exclusive to the Galaxy S24 series. Since then, some features have been extended to older and newer devices.
As exciting as many of Galaxy AI’s features have become (for example, Circle to Search), some refinement would ensure that more consumers embrace it and make it part of their everyday lives. For the Galaxy S26 series, let’s hope Galaxy AI becomes easier and more practical for the masses. Better still, Samsung should remove features that are more confusing than others to streamline Galaxy AI overall.
While we aren’t necessarily pushing for one feature over another for elimination, there are a few candidates. One potentially confusing aspect is Call Assist, particularly the Live Translate feature during calls. Some users are undoubtedly finding it awkward to rely on real-time translation while maintaining a natural conversation flow, especially if the translations aren’t accurate or have a noticeable delay.
Another Galaxy AI feature that needs improvement (or removal) is the Generative Edit feature for photos. Due to the unpredictable nature of AI-generated content, results are not always what users expect. As such, many are probably not even using it, and that should be addressed.
