The whole lot we learn about Samsung Galaxy S26: Leaks, specs, costs

Samsung normally launches its subsequent wave of flagship units over the winter, and all indicators level to an early-ish 2026 launch for the Samsung Galaxy S26 — and hopefully the Galaxy Z TriFold. The Galaxy S25 was launched in early February, and the Galaxy S24 earlier than it got here in late January. Thus, it stands to purpose that the Galaxy S26 will come across the similar time in 2026.

Whereas Samsung hasn’t introduced any upcoming Galaxy Unpacked occasions, we totally count on the brand new technology of Samsung telephones to make their debut quickly (leakers say you must mark Feb. 25 in your calendar). As per typical, forward of the official launch, we’re getting a gradual drip of leaks on the brand new Samsung telephones.

So, what do we all know to date? Loads, truly. Compensate for the Samsung Galaxy S26’s attainable specs, colours, pricing, and launch date.

What is going to the Galaxy S26 telephones seem like?

Lately, leaker @onleaks posted a gallery and video on X that claims to point out dummy models of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely. We won’t confirm the authenticity of the video, nevertheless it seems to be believable, at the least.

General, it seems to be similar to the S25 Extremely, as anticipated, with one notable change — it has a digicam bump much like the Galaxy Z Fold 7. As 9to5Google factors out, as a result of this bump is on the left aspect of the cellphone, it’s going to make the cellphone wobble when positioned down on a desk or desk. (The TriFold has the identical downside.) Compared, the most recent iPhone 17 Professional Max has a extra symmetrical form and thus no wobble.

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Nonetheless, we might be just a little skeptical of this leak. Android Police just lately posted its personal alleged S26 Extremely leaks, solely with out the digicam bump.

As for colours, leaker Evan Blass posted what may very well be the total record of colour choices on X. The colours are:

• Black

• White

• Silver Shadow

• Sky Blue

• Cobalt Violet

• Pink Gold

These all sound fairly commonplace for a Samsung cellphone, so it does not seem to be the corporate is doing something wildly daring this 12 months by way of colours. That is both a aid or a disappointment to you, relying on the way you felt concerning the controversial cosmic orange iPhone final 12 months.

What fashions shall be included within the S26 lineup?

We’re anticipating three telephones on the subsequent Galaxy Unpacked occasion:

• Samsung Galaxy S26

• Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus

• Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely

Only a few months in the past, rumors and leaks pointed to a major shakeup within the Galaxy S26 line. It was mentioned that Samsung would rename the bottom mannequin to S26 Professional, drop the Plus mannequin that sat in the midst of the annual lineup for years, and exchange that with a brand new Edge cellphone modeled after final 12 months’s S25 Edge (which was one thing of a flop). Nonetheless, that is apparently now not occurring, and you’ll thank Apple for that, per Korean outlet NewsPim (through 9to5google).

Because of Apple’s success in providing vital year-over-year upgrades to the bottom iPhone 17 (corresponding to a 120Hz show) with out elevating the worth, Samsung has reportedly dropped the Professional branding for the bottom mannequin and reverted it again to simply the Galaxy S26, which was corroborated by a separate report from SamMobile. In line with that report, you may count on a retread of the same old S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Extremely lineup in 2026. That could be disappointing to anybody who was anticipating an enormous shakeup primarily based on earlier reporting, but when nothing else, it makes it simpler to maintain monitor of what is going on on.

As for the beforehand rumored S26 Edge, it is unclear what is going on to occur with that. It could be lifeless, or it would come out later within the 12 months as a separate launch just like the S25 Edge did. On condition that cellphone’s relative lack of success, it could be good to imagine there will not be an S26 Edge at this level.

Galaxy S26 rumored specs

For specs, the rumors aren’t significantly stunning. The Galaxy S26 sequence is presently rumored to have the most recent Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip, which Qualcomm rebranded to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. There may be additionally a rumor that Samsung will equip some S26 fashions with an Exynos chip, which Samsung followers hope is the Exynos 2600, which has additionally been making some noise within the rumor mill currently.

When it comes to the small stuff, like storage and RAM, there have been some small rumblings. One rumor says that the Galaxy S26 (all fashions) will characteristic 16GB of RAM, a 4GB enhance from the previous few years, and essentially the most a Galaxy cellphone has had because the Galaxy S21 Extremely. When it comes to storage capability, there aren’t any rumors that something will change, so the 128GB base (256GB on the Extremely) is more likely to stay in place for now, with upgraded storage obtainable as an choice. 

Galaxy S26: Is a worth hike coming?

We’re within the midst of a significant international reminiscence scarcity, and this has been very unhealthy information for smartphone and laptop computer customers (you may blame the AI trade for hogging all of the RAM). And in response to leaker @kro_roe, this might not solely result in an S26 worth hike, but additionally the top of a preferred launch supply.

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Usually, when Samsung launches a brand new cellphone, prospects who pre-order or buy at launch can declare double the storage at no additional value. However with RAM in brief provide, that will now not be the case. The newest rumors counsel that Samsung hasn’t landed on a ultimate worth for the S26 telephones, nonetheless.

That final half is vital as a result of it is very attainable that the costs will not change in any case. At the very least one new report suggests Samsung is attempting to verify the costs do not enhance from final 12 months, even when meaning the corporate has to eat among the value of every unit offered.

Battery and charging

Primarily based on early rumors, this can be some of the fascinating modifications coming to the S26 lineup. Samsung has been engaged on a stacked battery design that may permit for extra dense batteries in the identical bodily house. This might convey a long-awaited bump to battery measurement. In line with early rumors, the S26 Extremely is slated to return with a 5,500 mAh stacked battery, a ten p.c enhance from the S25 Extremely.

Samsung reportedly experimented with eradicating a digicam so as to add much more battery capability, however that does not imply it is sure to occur within the mass-produced mannequin. Whereas the S26 Professional was rumored to have an even bigger 4,900mAh battery in comparison with earlier base mannequin Galaxy telephones, NewsPim’s report claimed that the bottom S26 (now that it is now not a Professional machine) has been adjusted all the way down to a extra modest 4,300mAh cell.

For charging, it’s unlikely that the Galaxy S26 sequence will get a severe improve. Samsung is positively engaged on 60W wired charging, however to date, plainly Samsung will await the Galaxy S27 sequence (or later) to implement it. This might change as we get nearer to launch for the S26 sequence, however for now, plainly 45W shall be round for at the least yet another 12 months. There are additionally rumors that wi-fi charging might even see a bump to the Qi2 commonplace

Galaxy S26: What concerning the cameras?

The digicam system within the Galaxy S26 sequence might change fairly a bit, and there are a couple of completely different rumors that say various things. Leaping proper in, one older rumor says that the S26 sequence can have the identical megapixel depend however will characteristic a brand new, as-of-yet unannounced sensor from the identical ISOCELL GN sequence as prior Samsung fashions. On the Galaxy S26 Extremely, a 200MP digicam is rumored, as is a 324MP lens with a 50MP, 3x telephoto lens. It’s extra probably that Samsung will do the 200MP with a brand new sensor, however all leaks are being thought of proper now. 

S25 Extremely with its 5 cameras.
Credit score: James Martin / Mashable

As well as, there are rumors that Samsung will convey again its variable aperture on the primary shooter, which Samsung hasn’t included on its digicam system because the Galaxy S10 sequence again in 2019. As beforehand talked about, Samsung could also be contemplating dropping the variety of cameras to 3 as a substitute of 4, like on prior fashions, to create space for a bigger battery. Different rumors concerning the digicam embody a twin periscope design that’ll amplify to 8x, however that’s simply hypothesis presently.

Nonetheless, many of those rumors come from the time after we thought Samsung was considerably altering the S26 lineup. Newer stories point out that, at the least for the bottom S26 and S26 Plus, issues will not change that a lot from earlier years. In line with Korean outlet The Elec, these two telephones can have the very same megapixel depend on the triple-lens rear array as earlier Galaxy fashions: a 50MP large lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP 3x telephoto lens. These have been the specs going all the way in which again to the Galaxy S22. In case you had been hoping for giant modifications within the cheaper S26 fashions this 12 months, you may have our condolences.

Different options and {hardware}

Android Police just lately alerted us to a really fascinating characteristic that would make its debut with the S26: A brand new mode known as Privateness Show. This rumored characteristic would make the show resemble a frosted display protector, besides it could be constructed into the UI. This leak comes from Samsung itself, so it is all however confirmed.

Different particulars on the Galaxy S26 lineup are fairly predictable. It’ll include the most recent One UI out of the gate with the most recent model of Android. That’s no shock, and we don’t want rumors to foretell that one. The S26 sequence will probably get One UI 8.5, which is slated for a quite massive redesign together with a bunch of recent options, together with the aforementioned privateness display characteristic. In line with rumor, the redesign emulates Apple’s Liquid Glass in some methods with clear UI parts. 

The one different piece of {hardware} we haven’t talked about is the S-Pen. Samsung seems to be set to do one thing large with the S-Pen. The rumors speculate that the S-Pen is sticking round and can include some upgrades. The brand new performance might have one thing to do with how magnetic equipment work, and this appears to be linked to the aforementioned Qi2 wi-fi charging improve. 

We’ll learn the way a lot (if any) of that is true in only a matter of weeks, going by earlier Samsung announcement timelines.