Samsung’s next big event is almost here! Galaxy Unpacked is officially set for Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 1 p.m. ET. Whether you're planning to upgrade your daily driver or just love watching the tech world move forward, we’ve rounded up all the last-minute leaks, specs, and pre-order bonuses so you know exactly what to expect.
The Lineup and Look
Don't hold your breath for a massive shakeup or a surprise "Pro" model. Samsung is sticking to its tried-and-true trio: the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. You can expect them to drop in six standard colors: Black, White, Silver Shadow, Sky Blue, Cobalt Violet, and Pink Gold.
The design of the S26 Ultra is causing a bit of debate online right now. Some leaked dummy units show a new camera bump on the left side (similar to the Z Fold 7) that might make the phone wobble if you set it on a desk. However, other leaks show the traditional flat-back design, so we'll have to wait for the reveal to know for sure.
Under the Hood: Power and Memory
Depending on where you live, the S26 series will be powered by either the brand new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 or the Exynos 2600.
RAM is pretty interesting this year. Because AI-capable chips are getting so expensive, Samsung is actually splitting its LPDDR5X RAM orders between its own factories and US-based Micron to keep costs down. Right now, it looks like the base and Plus models will get 12GB of RAM, while the Ultra gets either 12GB or 16GB. (Though, there is a very optimistic rumor floating around that every phone in the lineup might get bumped to 16GB).
Samsung is also hedging its bets against rising tech costs by ramping up early production of the Ultra model by 50%, aiming to pump out 3 million units right out of the gate.
Battery and Charging
If you buy the premium model, you're in for a nice battery upgrade. The S26 Ultra is tipped to get a 5,500 mAh stacked battery, which is a solid 10% jump from last year. The base S26 will likely sit at a more standard 4,300mAh.
Wired charging is still capped at 45W. If you were hoping the rumors about Qi2 wireless charging meant you were getting built-in, Apple-style MagSafe, I have some bad news. A recent leaked hands-on video confirmed the S26 Ultra won't have built-in magnetic charging; you’ll still need a magnetic case to snap your accessories onto the back.
The Camera Setup
If you take a lot of photos, the S26 Ultra is reportedly getting a brand-new 24MP shooting mode, right alongside the 200MP, 50MP, and 12MP options. This is meant to be the "sweet spot" that gives you incredible detail without clogging up your hard drive with massive file sizes.
For the S26 and S26+, the cameras aren't changing much. Expect the familiar 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3x telephoto lenses. Across the whole lineup, Samsung is bringing in a unified app that handles all your AI photo and video editing in one place.
Software and the "Privacy Display"
The new phones will run One UI 8.5 with a fresh, transparent design. The coolest rumored feature by far is the "Privacy Display"—a software mode that makes your screen look like it has a physical, frosted privacy protector on it to keep nosy people on the train from reading your texts.
A quick heads-up for S Pen users: Early hands-on leaks show the stylus still doesn't have Bluetooth (so no remote camera shutter feature), and you'll have to slide it back into the phone with the button facing a specific way.
Pre-Order Promos and Surprise Credits
If you're in Europe, the early deals look amazing. Samsung is officially killing off the 128GB base model, meaning the standard S26 starts at 256GB for €999. Early buyers will reportedly get a free storage double-up (pay for 256GB, get 512GB) plus trade-in bonuses of €100 for the S26/S26+ and €150 for the Ultra.
Over in the US, things are getting weird—but in a good way. Several people have reported waking up to an unexpected $50 store credit sitting in their Samsung accounts. It was applied automatically, no reservation required, and you can use it right away on a charging brick or a new case.
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