Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Everything We Know About the 2026 Flagship Phones

Samsung's Galaxy S26 series will be the company's upcoming flagship smartphone series, arriving in early 2026. The Galaxy S series has been the gold standard of premium Android smartphones, and with each iteration, Samsung adds new design features, improved performance, and innovative features.

Since the late 2024 period, rumors and leaks have been gradually building the hype, sketching the chips, design updates, charging speeds, and even name scheme renewal. By mid-2025, we already have a better idea of what Galaxy S26 Pro, Galaxy S26 Edge, and Galaxy S26 Ultra might have in store. Here is a detailed timeline of all that we know so far.

August 2025

A GSMA listing, spotted by SammyPolice, has suggested that Samsung could be shaking things up with its next lineup. Instead of the usual Standard, Plus, and Ultra models, the Galaxy S26 series may include the S26 Pro, S26 Edge, and S26 Ultra.

Display sizes:

• Galaxy S26 Pro - 6.27 inches

• Galaxy S26 Edge - 6.66 inches

• Galaxy S26 Ultra - 6.9 inches with slim bezels

This would mark the end of the traditional “Plus” variant, replaced by a sleeker Edge edition. According to Digital Chat Station, the S26 Pro could pack a slightly larger battery compared to its predecessors.

Battery capacities (rumoured):

• Galaxy S26 Pro - 4,300mAh

• Galaxy S26 Edge - 4,200mAh

• Galaxy S26 Ultra - 5,000mAh with 60W fast charging

Another interesting development comes from Ice Universe, who claims that the Galaxy S26 Edge could measure just 5.5mm thick, making it even slimmer than the S25 Edge (5.8mm). The Ultra model, meanwhile, is expected to measure 7.xmm thick.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to bring top-tier specifications, including a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 SoC (4.74GHz), One UI 8.5, a 200MP ISOCELL HP2+ primary camera with f/1.4 aperture, 16GB RAM, and 256GB/512GB/1TB storage options. Samsung has also teased that the Ultra could feature multiple AI agents beyond Google Gemini, opening doors for a flexible AI framework.

July 2025

In July, the GSMA database revealed three models: SM-S942 (S26 Pro), SM-S947 (S26 Edge), and SM-S948 (S26 Ultra). The absence of a Plus variant further supports the idea that the Edge will take its place.

One of the biggest highlights is the camera system on the S26 Ultra:

• 200MP ISOCELL HP2+ main camera with a wider f/1.4 aperture

• 12MP telephoto lens (3x optical zoom)

• 50MP periscope lens (5x zoom)

• 50MP ultrawide sensor

• Features like laser autofocus and Samsung’s new ProVisual Engine

The 6.9-inch LTPO display could feature even thinner bezels, shrinking from 1.2mm to 1.15mm, along with a new CoE OLED panel that improves brightness, efficiency, and reduces reflections.

Under the hood, Samsung is likely to employ a dual-chip strategy once again:

• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 for Galaxy (TSMC 3nm) - expected in the US and China

• Exynos 2600 (Samsung 2nm SF2) - likely for Europe, Asia, and other regions

The Exynos 2600, spotted on Geekbench 6.4, achieved 2,155 single-core and 7,788 multi-core scores. It’s built with a 10-core CPU design, and could include Heat Path Block (HPB) copper inserts for better thermal management.

March-May 2025

By March 2025, reports suggested that the Galaxy S26 Ultra prototype was already being tested. The prototype hinted at:

• A 200MP main camera with variable aperture (a feature not seen since the Galaxy S9)

• A 200MP periscope telephoto lens with 4x zoom

• A 50MP ultrawide lens

• A new S Pen with Bluetooth support

• Silicon-carbon battery technology

• Faster 60–65W charging

• Under-display front camera for a notch-free look

In May 2025, The Elec reported that the Edge model could replace the Plus variant in Samsung’s lineup due to the latter’s declining sales.

February 2025

Earlier in February, leaks suggested that Samsung could finally introduce an under-display selfie camera on the S26 Ultra, similar to what we’ve seen in the Galaxy Z Fold lineup. This would give the device a cleaner, uninterrupted screen.

Samsung was also reported to be working on faster charging technology (60-65W), a major step up from the 45W charging used in the Galaxy S25 series.

January 2025

In January 2025, news focused on Samsung pushing the silicon-carbon battery technology into the Galaxy S26 lineup. These batteries might provide increased energy density without taking up more space, a major milestone for smartphone battery life.

Leaks also indicated CoE (Colour-filter-on-thin-film-encapsulation) screen technology, which might thin screens and brighten them. Meanwhile, Samsung was also said to be testing a 200MP periscope cam for the Ultra model.

December 2024

In December 2024, the rumours began that Samsung was developing a new Exynos 2600 chip to come back in 2026 after taking a skip on Exynos all together for the Galaxy S25. Enhanced yields and performance optimization were thought to be the primary reasons why Samsung felt so confident.

The firm's plan may have Snapdragon ruling the US and China, with Exynos fueling Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world.

Wait for the Galaxy S26 Series?

With everything we’ve seen so far, the Galaxy S26 lineup is shaping up to be one of Samsung’s most ambitious upgrades in years. From AI-powered features and silicon-carbon batteries to under-display cameras and 200MP sensors, Samsung seems determined to redefine what a flagship smartphone can do.

If you already have a Galaxy S24 or S25, the updates might be incremental unless you desire the thinner design, quicker charging, and AI features. But for those using older flagships or other Android phones, waiting until January of 2026 might be an intelligent choice.

The Galaxy S26 Pro, S26 Edge, and S26 Ultra vow to bring Samsung's most powerful and revolutionary smartphone experience ever.