The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to be the next flagship in Samsung’s Galaxy S lineup, slated for early 2026. Samsung traditionally launches its new S-series phones in January or February.
In fact, SammyFans (Oct 2025) compiled launch/release dates for the S20 through S25 models, noting each debuted in Jan/Feb of its year. (For example, S20 was announced Feb 11, 2020 and released Mar 6; S21 on Jan 14, 2021 and released Jan 29, 2021; and so on through S25 in Jan/Feb 2025.) By this pattern, the S26 Ultra would likely be unveiled in mid-late January 2026 with sales starting in late January or early February.
- Galaxy S20: Launch Feb 11, 2020; Release Mar 6, 2020
- Galaxy S21: Launch Jan 14, 2021; Release Jan 29, 2021
- Galaxy S22: Launch Feb 9, 2022; Release Feb 25, 2022
- Galaxy S23: Launch Feb 1, 2023; Release Feb 17, 2023
- Galaxy S24: Launch Jan 17, 2024; Release Jan 31, 2024
- Galaxy S25: Launch Jan 22, 2025; Release Feb 7, 2025
- Galaxy S26 (expected): Launch mid–late Jan 2026; Release late Jan/early Feb 2026 (based on pattern)
However, several late-2025 leaks suggest Samsung may push the S26 lineup into March 2026. Industry sources quoted by sites like Gizmochina report that the Galaxy S26 Ultra is ready for production, but the base S26 is running behind schedule – possibly due to design and development issues. This could delay the usual January Unpacked event by about two months. TechRadar similarly notes that if the “Edge” variant is canceled and the standard model is late, Samsung might end up announcing the phones in March instead of January. These reports also mention that Samsung has decided to drop the S26 Edge model, keep a Galaxy S26+ variant, and rename the previously rumored “S26 Pro” to simply Galaxy S26. If true, the 2026 lineup would consist of three phones: Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra.
None of this is confirmed until Samsung speaks. The company typically announces Unpacked event dates only weeks in advance. For now, all release-timing info is based on leaks. Stay tuned for updates once Samsung sends invites.
Design and Renders
Leaks from design sources (notably leaker OnLeaks via AndroidHeadlines) give our first look at the S26 Ultra’s design. The renders show a large flat display (around 6.9 inches) with a small centered punch-hole selfie camera and very thin, uniform bezels. The frame is mostly squared off with slightly curved edges, and all physical buttons (power and volume) sit on the right side of the phone. The bottom edge houses the SIM tray, a Type-C USB port, the main speaker, and the S Pen stylus slot (in the lower-left corner).
On the back, the phone still has four cameras but in a new arrangement. The leaked CAD shows three lenses vertically aligned on a rectangular island that protrudes several millimeters, and a fourth lens placed to the side of that island. (A flash and sensor cutout sit above the fourth camera.) The rest of the back panel is flat. A case-render leak of a black S26 Ultra corroborates this: it shows a pill-shaped camera bump with three of the lenses inside and the fourth lens raised beside it. Overall the design is a refinement of the S25 Ultra’s style – similar in size (~163.4 × 77.9 × 7.9 mm without bump) but with a redesigned camera array and slightly more rounded corners for comfort.
Specs and Features (Rumored)
- Display: About 6.9-inch QHD+ (3120×1440) Dynamic AMOLED. It should use Samsung’s latest panel tech (M14 OLED with CoE – Color-on-Encapsulation) for vivid color and a thin profile. Reports say the screen will be 10-bit, supporting roughly 1 billion colors (an upgrade from the 8-bit display on the S25 Ultra).
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 (“8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy” edition) at its heart. Samsung will likely also offer an Exynos 2600 version in markets outside the U.S., continuing its dual-processor strategy.
- Memory & Storage: Expected in 12 GB or 16 GB RAM configurations. Storage options should include 256 GB, 512 GB, and a roomy 1 TB of UFS 4.0 flash (non-expandable).
- Battery & Charging: A large ~5,000 mAh battery, similar to the S25 Ultra. Fast charging should improve – leaks suggest up to ~60W wired charging (Samsung claims this can reach ~80% charge in ~30 minutes) versus 45W on the previous model. Wireless charging support (likely Qi 2.2 at 25W) and reverse charging for accessories are expected as before.
- Cameras: Four rear lenses are confirmed. Rumors point to a 200 MP main sensor (f/1.4 aperture) and a 50 MP ultra-wide camera. For zoom, Samsung is believed to include two telephoto lenses: a 3× optical zoom lens (around 10–12 MP) and a 5× periscope telephoto (likely 50 MP). This setup would mark a notable upgrade in zoom capabilities. In fact, industry reports indicate camera module production starts in Nov 2025, preparing parts for early 2026 phones.
- Software & Features: The S26 Ultra will ship with Android 16 and Samsung’s One UI 8 (or possibly 8.5) on day one. Samsung is expected to highlight new AI-driven software features and enhanced privacy options with One UI 8. As always for an “Ultra” model, an S Pen stylus is supported. Other high-end features likely include 5G, Wi-Fi 7, stereo speakers, and an in-display fingerprint sensor.
Pre-Launch Status: Samsung has not officially announced the S26 Ultra, so treat all of the above as rumors. Firmware leaks suggest the Ultra variant is already in development (with the Edge version now scrapped) and that Samsung intends to keep a Plus model. The phone is built around top-tier hardware (the latest chip, 200MP camera, large battery), so if leaks are accurate we can expect it to be one of the most powerful phones on the market. The actual release date will become clear when Samsung schedules its Galaxy Unpacked event, likely in early 2026. We will update this article once official information is available.
Sources: SamsungLeaks, SammyFans, AndroidHeadlines, Gizmochina, TechRadar, and other Samsung-focused news sites reporting on Galaxy S26 Ultra rumors (Oct 2025).