Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Samsung is once again in the headlines with its new flagship smartphones.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Samsung is once again in the news with its new flagship smartphones. According to reports, the company is preparing to launch the Galaxy S26 Ultra, along with the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ this month. These three premium smartphones will form the backbone of Samsung's lineup in 2026 and will come with the latest hardware, new software, and the Galaxy AI experience.
When will the Galaxy Unpacked event take place?
Samsung hasn't officially announced the date of the Galaxy Unpacked event yet, but information from supply chain and retail sources indicates that the launch will take place in late February. According to a potential invite image shared by renowned tipster IceUniverse, the event could take place on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. It's believed that the Galaxy Buds 4 could be unveiled alongside the Galaxy S26 series at this event. The event is expected to begin around 10 a.m. Pacific Time, depending on global time zones.
Launch location and focus on Galaxy AI
While the event's location hasn't been fully confirmed, San Francisco is considered a strong contender, as being closer to Silicon Valley allows Samsung to more effectively present its Galaxy AI and Generative AI updates.
Samsung hints at Galaxy S26 Ultra
Recently, the Samsung Gulf team launched a promotional campaign for Galaxy Unpacked. While the date wasn't directly announced, the hashtag #GalaxyUnpacked asked users what new features the next Unpacked event would bring. Notably, the first phase of this campaign runs until February 24th, ending just one day before the expected launch date.
Galaxy S26 Ultra pre-order details
According to reports, pre-orders won't begin on the same day as the event. Instead, users will be able to sign up the following day. In some countries, pre-orders and pre-sales may be phased in. As before, expect to see strong trade-in offers and free subscriptions to some AI services.
However, there's some doubt about the double storage offer this time around. Reports suggest that Samsung has removed the 128GB storage variant altogether, and even the entry-level models will come with more storage, which could lead to slightly higher prices than last year.
Entry will happen with OneUI 8.5
The Galaxy S26 series will launch with OneUI 8.5, the latest version of Android. Some features in this software may be limited to the S26 series, while other updates will gradually reach older Galaxy S and some Galaxy A models.
Sales and review timeline
According to retailers, sales of the Galaxy S26 series could begin on March 11th. Samsung typically releases phones two weeks after launch, and this strategy is likely to be adopted this time as well. Initial reviews of the Galaxy S26 Ultra are expected to begin surfacing about a week after the Unpacked event.
There will be competition with the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Apple launched its flagship model, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, last September. This new iPhone features a 6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display with support for a 120Hz refresh rate. It's also powered by the latest A19 Pro chipset, features a 48MP triple rear camera setup, and an 18MP front camera for selfies, both of which are capable of taking excellent photos. It's believed that this upcoming Samsung phone could provide a strong competition to the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
