Samsung may push Galaxy S26 launch to February 2026 as chip strategy comes into focus
If the February timeline holds, it means you won't be able to buy the Galaxy S26 lineup till March 2026.
Samsung may be rethinking the timing of its next flagship launch. Reports indicate the company is planning a Galaxy Unpacked event in February 2026, a shift from the January window it has stuck to in recent years. If that timeline holds, it would mark a subtle but meaningful change in how Samsung rolls out its most important phones.
According to reports citing South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, the event is expected to take place in San Francisco. For comparison, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S25 series on January 22 this year. Moving Unpacked into February would suggest a slower, more deliberate cadence heading into 2026.
Ejiro Onose
A familiar Galaxy S26 lineup, with new chip choices
The Galaxy S26 series is expected to follow Samsung’s usual three-model structure. That means a Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. The bigger story this time appears to be silicon rather than form factor.
Samsung recently announced the Exynos 2600, its next flagship processor and the company’s first smartphone chip built on a 2nm process. If Samsung sticks to its recent approach, the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus could ship with either Exynos 2600 or Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, depending on the region.
The Ultra model looks set to take a different path, though. The Galaxy S26 Ultra has reportedly appeared in the US FCC database with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 listed as its processor. That points to Samsung prioritising consistent performance for its highest-end model across all markets.
Other expected specs paint a familiar flagship picture. The phone is tipped to feature a 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness around 3,000 nits. On the software side, it is likely to launch with One UI 8.5 based on Android 16.
Design changes may be more noticeable. Reports suggest Samsung could move away from its long-standing floating camera ring design in favour of a pill-shaped rear camera module, similar to what it uses on the Galaxy Fold line. If true, that would mark a visible shift after several years of near-identical rear layouts.
Camera hardware remains a core focus. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to carry a quad-camera setup led by a 200MP main sensor, paired with a 50MP ultra-wide camera, a 50MP periscope lens with 5x optical zoom, and a 12MP telephoto camera offering 3x optical zoom. A 12MP front-facing camera is also expected.
Battery capacity is said to stay at 5,000mAh, though charging could see an upgrade, with reports pointing to 60W wired fast charging and support for Qi2 magnetic wireless charging.
Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus look incremental
The standard Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus are shaping up to be more evolutionary than experimental. Both models are expected to continue Samsung’s dual-chip strategy, with Snapdragon or Exynos depending on the market.
The Galaxy S26 could see a slight display bump to 6.3 inches, up from 6.2 inches on the S25, while retaining an FHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. Camera hardware is expected to include a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 12MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, alongside a 12MP selfie camera.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 Plus is likely to keep the same camera setup but step up to a larger 6.7-inch QHD+ display. Battery capacities are expected to land around 4,300mAh for the Galaxy S26 and 4,900mAh for the Galaxy S26 Plus.
The takeaway
The Galaxy S26 series doesn't look like a dramatic reinvention, and that may be intentional. Samsung appears focused on tightening its chip strategy, refining performance, and making selective design updates rather than chasing headline-grabbing spec jumps.
If the February 2026 timeline proves accurate, the shift could also hint at a broader rethink of Samsung’s flagship release cycle. Instead of racing the calendar, the company may be buying itself more time to balance hardware ambition with stability as competition at the high end continues to intensify.
Damilare Odedina
