Samsung Galaxy S26 Series: Design Rumors & Latest News

Curious about the next Samsung Galaxy series? We should find out everything we need to know about the S26 at Galaxy Unpacked. Recent reports point to Samsung’s biannual launch event taking place on February 25, 2026. 

The Galaxy S26 lineup should officially release just a few weeks later in March, with at least three models: the base model, the premium Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, and either the S26 Plus or Edge. 

It was previously thought that the Edge would replace the Plus in the S26 series. However, while nothing is yet confirmed, the larger model could stay, while the ultra-slim device is unlikely to be released due to low S25 Edge sales.

Alongside the potential cancelation of the S26 Edge comes a variety of rumored developments across the entire lineup, from the use of Samsung’s in-house Exynos chips to new camera sensors. But which of these updates is true? In this article, we’ll explore the latest Galaxy S26 news and explain which leaks are most accurate.

Will the Samsung Galaxy S26 Feature a New Design?

The standard Samsung Galaxy S26 is expected to feature a significant redesign from its predecessor. It could follow the recent trend of flagship smartphones and become slimmer, making the Galaxy S device more pocket-friendly. 

Photos and reports from a trusted leaker suggest the S26 could measure just 6.9 mm - 0.3 mm less than the S25. While this may not be a huge reduction, particularly when compared to the S25 Edge’s 5.8 mm frame, it still makes the base model thinner than the Apple iPhone 17 and Google Pixel 10.

These measurements also fall short of the previously rumored Galaxy S26 Pro (6.7 mm), which Samsung has now canceled in favor of the base model and the Ultra. 

Galaxy S26 Display

Despite becoming thinner overall, one element that will likely increase slightly in size is the display. The S26’s screen could reportedly grow from 6.2 to 6.3 inches and feature M14 OLED technology, with the same resolution as the Ultra model.

The leaked photos we previously mentioned also show a vertical camera island for the S26’s three rear shooters. Previous Galaxy S devices haven’t featured a dedicated island, with the cameras instead being built straight into cutouts on the back of the device. 

This is possibly inspired by the camera bump on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung’s latest book-style foldable phone. The island design change would also prevent dust buildup, a problem that’s reportedly caused issues for many current Galaxy S25 users.

Below this is a circular cutout, which indicates the presence of Qi2 magnets. The Qi2 standard supports faster wireless charging speeds, with the magnets ensuring optimal alignment.

Galaxy S26 Ultra Design

Galaxy S26 Ultra leaks suggest the premium device could be getting more rounded corners. This change would remove the discontinued Note-inspired angular frame, marking the start of a softer-looking era for the high-end phone. 

These rumored updates are supported by leaked photos showing designs for three screen protectors, which have the same rounded edges and thin bezels on all sides. 

The S26 Ultra camera layout looks similar to the S25, with the same vertical alignment. The fourth camera and laser autofocus module are positioned just to the right of this housing. 

What Can We Expect from the Samsung Galaxy S26 Series? 3 Potential Updates

We can expect photography and performance upgrades across the Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup, supported by potential camera and processor hardware updates. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Camera Hardware Upgrades

One of the many updates announced for the Galaxy S26 during Samsung’s Q3 earnings call was “new camera sensors.” This claim is now backed by leaked firmware, which revealed the following sensors for the base model and rumored S26 Plus:

• 50 MP main

• 12 MP ultrawide

• 12 MP telephoto

The most significant change is the telephoto camera, with a newer Samsung ISOCELL sensor and the resolution increasing from 10 MP to 12 MP. But the biggest upgrades are reserved for the S26 Ultra, which could potentially feature a 12 MP telephoto lens with 3x zoom.

However, some tipsters disagree, saying the Ultra’s hardware will remain unchanged. The telephoto sensor could even downgrade in size! These rumors are mainly due to the slimmer body and unchanged camera bump height, leaving little space for a new sensor. 

This doesn’t necessarily mean a reduction in quality, though, with image processing and sensor technology making significant contributions to the Ultra’s potential camera hardware:

• 200 MP main

• 50 MP ultrawide

• 50 MP 5x telephoto

• 10 or 12 MP 3x telephoto

If these specs are accurate, it means three out of the four lenses would be the same as the S25 Ultra. The main and 5x telephoto cameras could feature a wider aperture, which allows more light to enter for better low-light photography quality.

2. Camera Assistant Updates

These hardware changes could be joined by new features for Camera Assistant, an app that expands controls and photography settings. This includes:

• Adaptive Pixel: Blends multiple low-resolution shots into one high-resolution shot.

• 24 MP Resolution: Applied to the default Camera and Portrait modes.

• Turn Off HDR10+: Allows videos to be edited without a grainy effect.

• Focus Speed Slider: Replicates manual focus on professional cameras for cinematic video recording.

Whether the upgrades are true or not, the S25 Ultra already had one of the best camera systems of the year. This should be the case for the S26 Ultra, too!

3. Exynos 2600 Chip

Daniel Araujo, Vice President of Samsung’s Mobile Experience division, suggested during the Q3 earnings call that the Galaxy S26 series will offer “its own 2nd generation chipset.”

This refers to the Exynos 2600, the latest version of Samsung’s in-house silicon range. These chips don’t have the best reputation for performance and power efficiency, with the name ‘Exynos’ often equating to ‘compromise’ in the minds of many Samsung fans.

However, upgraded 2nm technology means that its performance could match Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, as demonstrated by leaked Geekbench tests.

Only the Galaxy S26 Ultra is likely to include the Snapdragon model. The Gen 5 chip features a stronger single- and multi-core performance than its predecessor, which is designed to offer more personalized on-device AI features and a better camera performance. 

This means that the S26 should have an even longer battery life than the S25, supported by a bigger battery capacity, which could increase from 4000 mAh to 4300 mAh. If the S26 Plus does launch, it’s also rumored to feature a larger 4900 mAh battery, while the Ultra’s 5000 mAh capacity should remain.

Final Thoughts

Samsung Galaxy S26 series rumors currently remain conflicting, particularly when it comes to camera upgrades. There’s even new speculation that Samsung has overcome production delays, meaning the series could be on track for its regular January launch window. However, other reports maintain the later release date. 

Some features could also vary between regions, including the use of the Exynos and Snapdragon chips. The 8 Elite Gen 5 is supposedly reserved for the US, China, and Japan.

Either way, we won’t know for sure whether the Galaxy S26 series will match the exceptional performance of the S25 until Galaxy Unpacked. We’re looking forward to seeing which devices make it to the market and testing them ourselves!