Samsung Galaxy S26 Release Date: All You Need to Know

The New Year typically means one thing for Samsung fans: a new flagship launch! And as 2026 approaches, we’re hoping for a Galaxy S device that follows in the footsteps of Samsung’s exciting foldable releases earlier this year, including the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Fold 7 phones.

But according to recent reports and speculation, changes could be made to the standard launch date. So, when can you expect to get your hands on the latest Galaxy S26 device? Here’s all the up-to-date information we have so far.

When Will the Galaxy S26 Be Released?

The Galaxy S26 is expected to be released in March 2026, following its preview at the first of Samsung’s biannual Galaxy Unpacked events. One South Korean publication points to this event taking place on February 25, 2026, in San Francisco, which is notably later than the past few years.

Like the Apple iPhone, Samsung phones follow a traditional yearly launch pattern. Flagship Galaxy devices are usually released earlier in the year, around January or February. The S25 was announced on January 22, 2025, at Samsung’s first Galaxy Unpacked event of the year and became available for purchase from February 7. Before that, the S24 was released on January 31, 2024.

However, the S26 looks set to deviate from this agenda. Samsung fans may have to wait until late spring to get their hands on the latest Galaxy S phone. There hasn’t been such a late release date since the Galaxy S20 on March 13, 2020!

Why Could the Galaxy S26 Release Date Change Next Year?

Next year’s Galaxy S26 release date could change due to slow S25 Edge sales this year.

The Galaxy S25 Edge is a slimmer, lighter version of the flagship S25 phone released in May earlier this year. It was thought that this launch would mark the start of the gradual Plus model phase-out, instead replacing it with the thinner device.

If true, this would leave a Galaxy S26 lineup consisting of the: 

• Base model

• S26 Edge

• Premium S26 Ultra

However, it’s now unlikely to happen, since Galaxy S25 Edge sales have reportedly been much slower than expected this year. New phones generally have high sales for at least three months, but Samsung began lowering the number of S25 Edge units it produced after just one month on the market.

Samsung may therefore not release an S26 Edge, instead going ahead with just the base and Ultra devices. If they did want to add a Plus, it may not be ready in time for the traditional January or February launch.

Korean reports suggest the Ultra will go into mass production as early as December, while the regular S26 and S26 Plus will not, which would postpone the Galaxy S26 release date until at least March. 

What Can We Expect from the Samsung Galaxy S26?

We can expect potential camera, battery life, AI, and performance upgrades from the Samsung Galaxy S26, although it may keep a similar design to the S25. Let’s take a closer look at four of its rumored design and software features:

1. Name Change

Something we haven’t yet mentioned is the Galaxy S26 Pro. Although originally rumored to be a new device, it’s now thought that the Pro phone could completely replace the base model. 

This revelation comes courtesy of leaked internal build code, which highlights Samsung’s plan to showcase the entire S26 series as a more premium lineup. The Pro label points to better specs for the current entry-level Galaxy S phone. 

However, it could also simply mean a potential price hike from the S25’s $799, without these improved specs.

2. Design

Renders show a Galaxy S26 that looks remarkably similar, if not identical, to the previous generation.

One change, though, could come from the 6.27-inch screen. While this would only be a slight increase from the S25, it allows Samsung to offer a bigger display on a pocket-friendly phone. The display may also be brighter if Samsung uses the same M14 OLED technology as Apple and Google flagships.

3. Chip

Samsung’s in-house Exynos chip could make a comeback on the Galaxy S26. 

The Exynos 2600 is rumored to be even faster than the powerful A19 Pro found in the iPhone 17 Pro series. But will it be used in the Ultra or just the base model? Premium Ultra devices usually have the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

The chipset choice may also vary by region. Some rumors suggest the US, China, and Japan will incorporate the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Elite, which offers 30% greater power efficiency than the previous Snapdragon 8 Elite. Snapdragon chips are also generally more efficient than the Exynos offering.

Alongside the Exynos or Snapdragon processor could come a higher 4300 mAh battery capacity, though the battery life depends on which chip is used. Samsung’s Q3 2025 earnings call also revealed that the Galaxy S26 should “revolutionize the user experience with user-centric, next-gen AI.” 

This indicates potentially better on-device Galaxy AI features, including support for third-party chatbots other than Gemini.

4. Significant Camera Upgrades

The same earnings call also revealed that the “stronger performance” would facilitate “new camera sensors.” This could be one benefit of the delay, which has given Samsung time to boost its camera quality.

The Galaxy S26 is rumored to include a 50 MP ultrawide camera, upgraded from the Galaxy S25’s 12 MP. The same 50 MP main camera may also feature, but with a larger sensor to capture more light, and a 12 MP 3x telephoto lens. Bigger changes are reserved for the S26 Ultra, which could have a 200 MP 5x lens.

Though the design is likely to remain similar, one key update could come from the camera module on the back of the device. While the S25’s camera lenses are integrated into its body, leaked S26 renders show a vertical camera bump featuring three lenses.

Should You Invest in the Galaxy S26 On Its Release Date?

Right now, it’s difficult to say whether the Galaxy S26 will be worth the investment ahead of release day. If you’re looking for a dramatic design change, then you could be disappointed, while camera and power efficiency upgrades look more likely.

There’s no confirmation of Samsung’s Galaxy S26 release plans, prices, or even which models will launch yet, and we’re unlikely to know for sure until early 2026. However, the lineup changes mean a later launch date and the Galaxy Unpacked event are definitely on the cards. 

We could also still see a follow-up to the S25 Edge later on, with some leaks reporting that Samsung has codenamed a new development project “More Slim.” This would make sense for the S26 Edge, since its predecessor was simply nicknamed “Slim.”

The later date means Apple and Google have longer to wait until their iPhone 17 and Pixel 10 competition arrives on the market. And longer for us to see which flagship device comes out on top!