Rumors are already building around Samsung’s next flagship smartphone series, the Galaxy S26. With leaks surfacing months ahead of launch, early details suggest familiar designs, powerful chips, and a likely early 2026 debut.
Samsung traditionally unveils its flagship Galaxy S phones during the winter months. The Galaxy S25 launched in early February, while the Galaxy S24 arrived in late January.
Based on this pattern, the Galaxy S26 series is widely expected to launch in early 2026, likely in January or February, alongside other major Samsung devices. While no Galaxy Unpacked event has been announced yet, the growing number of leaks suggests the launch window is approaching.
Galaxy S26 design leaks
Recently, well-known leaker @onleaks shared images and a video on X claiming to show dummy units of the Galaxy S26 Ultra. While the authenticity cannot be confirmed, the design appears plausible.
The leaked dummy closely resembles the Galaxy S25 Ultra, with one major change: a camera bump similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
According to reports, the left-aligned camera bump could cause the phone to wobble when placed flat on a surface. This would differ from the more symmetrical design seen on Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max.
However, Android Police later shared separate alleged leaks of the S26 Ultra that do not include the camera bump, raising doubts about the final design.
Live images and hands-on video surface
Newly leaked images of Galaxy S26 Ultra dummy units show the device alongside the base Galaxy S26. Both phones appear to share the same oval-shaped camera island with three cameras.
For the first time, the S26 and S26 Ultra reportedly feature identical corner curvature, suggesting a more unified design language across the lineup.
The images include white and black dummy units, offering a clearer look at the overall shape. While these units lack the premium finish of final devices, they provide a strong indication of Samsung’s design direction.
A short hands-on video of the dummy units further highlights the phone’s size and camera layout.
Galaxy S26 lineup: Models expected
Earlier rumors suggested Samsung might rebrand the base model as the Galaxy S26 Pro, drop the Plus variant, and introduce a new Edge model. However, those plans now appear to be scrapped.
According to Korean outlet NewsPim, cited by 9to5Google, Samsung reconsidered after Apple successfully upgraded the base iPhone 17 without raising prices. SamMobile later corroborated this report.
As a result, Samsung is now expected to stick with its traditional lineup: Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. While this may disappoint fans hoping for a refresh, it keeps the lineup straightforward.
The rumored Galaxy S26 Edge remains uncertain and may be canceled or released later as a separate device, similar to the Galaxy S25 Edge.
Rumoured Galaxy S26 specifications
On the hardware front, leaks suggest the Galaxy S26 series will feature Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, previously referred to as the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2.
Samsung is also expected to use its own Exynos chips in some regions.
Recent reports claim the Galaxy S26 will be powered by the Exynos 2600 chipset in South Korea, while Snapdragon variants will be sold in other markets. The Exynos 2600 has been gaining attention in recent rumors, though Samsung has yet to confirm any details.
