All the pieces we learn about Samsung Galaxy S26: Leaks, specs, costs

Samsung normally launches its subsequent wave of flagship gadgets 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 motive that the Galaxy S26 will come across the similar time in 2026.

Whereas Samsung hasn’t introduced any upcoming Galaxy Unpacked occasions, we absolutely count on the brand new technology of Samsung telephones to make their debut quickly (leakers say it is best to mark Feb. 25 in your calendar). As per standard, 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. Atone for the Samsung Galaxy S26’s doable specs, colours, pricing, and launch date.

What is going to the Galaxy S26 telephones appear to be?

Not too long ago, leaker @onleaks posted a gallery and video on X that claims to indicate dummy models of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely. We won’t confirm the authenticity of the video, but it surely appears to be like believable, a minimum of.

General, it appears to be like similar to the S25 Extremely, as anticipated, with one notable change — it has a digital camera bump just like the Galaxy Z Fold 7. As 9to5Google factors out, as a result of this bump is on the left facet of the telephone, it’ll make the telephone wobble when positioned down on a desk or desk. (The TriFold has the identical drawback.) As compared, the newest iPhone 17 Professional Max has a extra symmetrical form and thus no wobble.

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Nonetheless, we’d be a bit skeptical of this leak. Android Police not too long ago posted its personal alleged S26 Extremely leaks, solely with out the digital camera bump.

As for colours, leaker Evan Blass posted what might be the total checklist of shade choices on X. The colours are:

• Black

• White

• Silver Shadow

• Sky Blue

• Cobalt Violet

• Pink Gold

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

What fashions might 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 telephone modeled after final 12 months’s S25 Edge (which was one thing of a flop). Nonetheless, that is apparently not taking place, and you’ll thank Apple for that, per Korean outlet NewsPim (through 9to5google).

That is the S25 Extremely.
Credit score: James Martin / Mashable

Attributable to Apple’s success in providing vital year-over-year upgrades to the bottom iPhone 17 (similar 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 only the Galaxy S26, which was corroborated by a separate report from SamMobile. In accordance with that report, you may count on a retread of the same old S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Extremely lineup in 2026. Which may be disappointing to anybody who was anticipating an enormous shakeup based mostly 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. Provided that telephone’s relative lack of success, it could be sensible to imagine there will not be an S26 Edge at this level.

Galaxy S26 rumored specs

For specs, the rumors aren’t notably stunning. The Galaxy S26 sequence is at the moment rumored to have the newest Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip, which Qualcomm rebranded to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. There’s 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 recently.

By way of 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 improve from the previous couple of years, and essentially the most a Galaxy telephone has had because the Galaxy S21 Extremely. By way of storage capability, there are not 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 accessible as an choice. 

Galaxy S26: Is a value hike coming?

We’re within the midst of a significant world reminiscence scarcity, and this has been very unhealthy information for smartphone and laptop computer buyers (you may blame the AI business for hogging all of the RAM). And in accordance with leaker @kro_roe, this might not solely result in an S26 value hike, but additionally the top of a well-liked launch supply.

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Sometimes, when Samsung launches a brand new telephone, clients who pre-order or buy at launch can declare double the storage at no further price. However with RAM in brief provide, which will not be the case. The latest rumors recommend that Samsung hasn’t landed on a ultimate value for the S26 telephones, nonetheless.

That final half is necessary as a result of it’s extremely doable that the costs will not change in any case. At the very least one new report suggests Samsung is making an attempt to ensure the costs do not improve from final 12 months, even when meaning the corporate has to eat a few of the price of every unit bought.

Battery and charging

Based mostly on early rumors, this can be one of the vital attention-grabbing modifications coming to the S26 lineup. Samsung has been engaged on a stacked battery design that will enable for extra dense batteries in the identical bodily house. This might carry a long-awaited bump to battery dimension. In accordance with early rumors, the S26 Extremely is slated to return with a 5,500 mAh stacked battery, a ten % improve from the S25 Extremely.

Samsung reportedly experimented with eradicating a digital camera 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 a much bigger 4,900mAh battery in comparison with earlier base mannequin Galaxy telephones, NewsPim’s report claimed that the bottom S26 (now that it is not a Professional system) has been adjusted right down to a extra modest 4,300mAh cell.

For charging, it’s unlikely that the Galaxy S26 sequence will get a critical improve. Samsung is undoubtedly engaged on 60W wired charging, however to date, plainly Samsung will look forward to 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 might be round for a minimum of another 12 months. There are additionally rumors that wi-fi charging may even see a bump to the Qi2 normal

Galaxy S26: What concerning the cameras?

The digital camera system within the Galaxy S26 sequence could change fairly a bit, and there are just a few totally different rumors that say various things. Leaping proper in, one older rumor says that the S26 sequence may have the identical megapixel rely 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 digital camera is rumored, as is a 324MP lens with a 50MP, 3x telephoto lens. It’s extra doubtless that Samsung will do the 200MP with a brand new sensor, however all leaks are being thought-about proper now. 

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

As well as, there are rumors that Samsung will carry again its variable aperture on the principle shooter, which Samsung hasn’t included on its digital camera system because the Galaxy S10 sequence again in 2019. As beforehand talked about, Samsung could also be contemplating dropping the variety of cameras to a few as an alternative of 4, like on prior fashions, to create space for a bigger battery. Different rumors concerning the digital camera embrace a twin periscope design that’ll enlarge to 8x, however that’s simply hypothesis right now.

Nonetheless, many of those rumors come from the time after we thought Samsung was considerably altering the S26 lineup. Newer reviews point out that, a minimum of for the bottom S26 and S26 Plus, issues will not change that a lot from earlier years. In accordance with Korean outlet The Elec, these two telephones may have the very same megapixel rely on the triple-lens rear array as earlier Galaxy fashions: a 50MP broad 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 have been hoping for large modifications within the cheaper S26 fashions this 12 months, you could have our condolences.

Different options and {hardware}

Android Police not too long ago alerted us to a really attention-grabbing characteristic that would make its debut with the S26: A brand new mode referred to as Privateness Show. This rumored characteristic would make the show resemble a frosted display screen protector, besides it might 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 newest One UI out of the gate with the newest model of Android. That’s no shock, and we don’t want rumors to foretell that one. The S26 sequence will doubtless get One UI 8.5, which is slated for a relatively giant redesign together with a number of latest options, together with the aforementioned privateness display screen characteristic. In accordance with rumor, the redesign emulates Apple’s Liquid Glass in some methods with clear UI components. 

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 could 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.