Everything We Know About the Samsung Galaxy S26 Series So Far

It feels like we just finished unboxing the S25, yet the rumor mill for the Samsung Galaxy S26 is already spinning at full speed. Samsung is at a bit of a crossroads right now. They’ve spent the last few years refining a design that people clearly love, but with competitors like Xiaomi and Apple pushing the boundaries of "slimness" and camera hardware, the S26 needs to be more than just a minor spec bump.

Based on the leaks and industry whispers we’ve gathered so far, here is the state of the S26 series.

The Launch Timeline and Lineup

If history is any indication, we should expect a Galaxy Unpacked event in early 2026. While some early reports suggested a late January reveal, the latest chatter points toward a February 2025 announcement with a retail launch in March.

As for the models, it looks like Samsung is sticking to the "Power Trio" strategy

• The Standard S26 for the fans of compact flagships.
• The S26 Plus for those who want the screen real estate without the "Ultra" price tag.
• The S26 Ultra as the absolute apex of their mobile technology.

There was a lot of talk about a "Galaxy S26 Slim" or "Edge" model (similar to the rumored iPhone Air), but recent leaks suggest Samsung may have shelved that project to focus on making the entire main lineup thinner instead.

Design Refinements and Display

We aren't expecting a radical departure from the current look, but "thinner and lighter" seems to be the internal mantra.

The S26 Ultra is rumored to lean further into the "softer" design language, potentially featuring more rounded corners to make that massive 6.9-inch frame more comfortable to hold. On the display front, Samsung is reportedly moving to "M14" OLED panels across the board. This technology is more power-efficient and can hit much higher peak brightness—rumors suggest up to 3,000 nits—which would make the screen readable even under direct, harsh sunlight.

Performance - The 2nm Era

This is where things get interesting. Samsung is reportedly preparing its first-ever 2nm chipset, the Exynos 2600.

The global strategy usually involves a split between Qualcomm and Samsung’s own chips. The S26 Ultra will almost certainly use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (or Gen 2 of the "Elite" branding) globally. However, the base S26 and S26 Plus might see a return to Exynos in many regions.

One point of contention in the leaks is that the Exynos 2600 might use an external modem rather than an integrated one. While this might save space on the chip, skeptics are already worried about what this could mean for battery drain and heat management.

Camera Upgrades - Quality over Quantity

While the 200MP main sensor is likely staying on the Ultra, the real changes are happening "behind the glass."

• A Wider Aperture – The S26 Ultra might move to an f/1.4 aperture, which would be a massive win for low-light photography.
• Telephoto Overhaul – We might see the secondary telephoto lens jump to 50MP, ensuring that even mid-range zoom shots retain high levels of detail.
• Unified Modules – There are rumors that Samsung might move away from the "floating lens" look back toward a unified camera island to keep the profile slim.

Battery and Charging

Samsung has been famously conservative with charging speeds, but the S26 Ultra might finally break the 45W ceiling. Some certifications suggest a move to 60W or 65W wired charging.

Additionally, there’s a strong rumor that Samsung will adopt the Qi2 wireless charging standard. This would bring MagSafe-like magnetic alignment to the Galaxy series, opening up a whole new world of magnetic accessories and more efficient wireless power transfer.

Final Thoughts

The Galaxy S26 series looks like it’s going to be an exercise in "extreme refinement." By moving to a 2nm architecture and finally addressing long-standing requests like faster charging and better low-light apertures, Samsung is aiming to solidify its lead.

Of course, these are all still rumors. We’ll be keeping a close eye on the supply chain as we head into late 2025 to see which of these features actually make the cut.