Samsung's activities in 2025 included releasing innovative foldable devices, introducing a slim profile option, and supporting Google's extended reality system. Following disclosures at CES 2026, the firm has scheduled its initial Galaxy Unpacked gathering for February 25, anticipated to unveil the Galaxy S26 collection. Invitations have been distributed officially, though specifics on the forthcoming hardware remain unverified. Consistent with past events, substantial insights into the anticipated reveals are already circulating.
Engadget plans to report on Galaxy Unpacked directly from San Francisco in the coming week, offering likely initial impressions of Samsung's latest mobile devices shortly after their debut. In anticipation of complete revelations, below is a summary of the projected announcements from Samsung's opening Galaxy Unpacked of 2026.
Per the invitation released by Samsung on February 10, the event is set for February 25, 2026, in San Francisco. The presentation begins at 10 a.m. Pacific Time (1 p.m. Eastern Time) and will stream live on Samsung.com, the firm's news portal, and YouTube. The February 10 disclosure highlighted this as 'a fresh chapter in AI's evolution, where intelligence grows personal and responsive.' While this echoes statements from multiple tech firms recently, it prepares attendees for further AI discussions in about two weeks.
Samsung's conservative strategy for phone refreshes is poised to persist with the Galaxy S26. Leaked visuals indicate no major overhaul in aesthetics for the Galaxy S26, S26+, or S26 Ultra, maintaining a design akin to the Galaxy S25. Expect a level display and edges, curved at the corners, with rear cameras in a vertical oval module. In contrast to Apple's shift from iPhone 16 Pro to 17 Pro, key upgrades here focus on internals such as displays, processors, and imaging hardware.
All Galaxy S26 models are projected to incorporate Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, but Yonhap News from Korea mentions the potential regional use of Samsung's Exynos 2600 in select variants, mirroring prior practices. Regardless, performance should surpass the prior lineup, with Snapdragon-equipped units excelling in local AI tasks.
A potential upgrade for the Galaxy S26 over the S25 involves the display size. Leaker Ice Universe indicates a 6.3-inch FHD+ panel, marginally bigger than the 6.2-inch on the S25. The device may include 12GB RAM, 256GB or 512GB storage, and a 4,300mAh battery. Camera setup stays unchanged with a 50MP primary, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto, and 12MP front sensor. The S26+ sees minimal tweaks beyond the processor, retaining a 6.7-inch FHD+ screen, 4,900mAh battery, 12GB RAM, and identical cameras to the base model.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra diverges more noticeably from the S25 Ultra. Android Headlines notes elevated camera housings with a metallic accent. Samsung might revert to an aluminum chassis from titanium on the S24 and S25 Ultras. Crucially, to enable proper Qi2 compatibility beyond cased use, speculation points to eliminating the S Pen digitizer and implementing an alternative stylus detection. Details on this approach are unclear, but it could enhance Qi2 accessory integration without stylus sacrifice.
Android Headlines recently published apparent complete renders of the S26 lineup, aligning with existing leaks and reports. If genuine, these visuals clarify the camera module and highlight two S26 Ultra color options.
Those hoping for built-in magnets in Samsung devices might face ongoing letdown based on current speculation. Although the Qi2 standard introduced magnetic alignment years back, Samsung hasn't adopted it natively. Despite supporting the standard's faster charging, Nieuwemobiel.nl cites case images with magnetic rings, suggesting the S26 series lacks internal magnets. Samsung has previously offered such add-ons, supporting the continuation of this method.
The 2024 Galaxy Buds 3 and 3 Pro underwent a redesign resembling Apple's AirPods. The upcoming Galaxy Buds 4 and 4 Pro, expected soon, may refine this further with a smaller case and smoother stems, per leaks from the Samsung Tips application.
Both new Buds models are said to include head-movement controls for call management, similar to Apple's AirPods Pro 3 and 4. SamMobile indicates an added Ultra Wideband chip for better location via Google's Find Hub.
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z TriFold in late 2025 without clear U.S. launch details. On January 27, it confirmed availability starting January 30 at $2,900. Having showcased it at CES 2026, by Unpacked, many may have viewed or purchased it, so limited focus on the TriFold is anticipated.
The 2025 Galaxy S25 Edge sparked ideas of Samsung potentially swapping the Plus model for a distinct shape, akin to Apple's iPhone Air. Reports conflict, but the Galaxy S26 Edge appears set to persist as a separate choice, like foldables for non-standard preferences. Android Headlines describes a revised look with a broad rectangular camera array evoking Google's Pixels and Apple's iPhone Air oval. It's also tipped to measure 5.5mm thick, slimmer than the 5.8mm S25 Edge.
Samsung serves as a prime venue for Google to demonstrate Android AI enhancements, yet it's pursuing other collaborations. Bloomberg in June 2025 revealed Samsung close to partnering with Perplexity for its AI search integration into OneUI and Samsung's browser. Perplexity's Motorola Razr deal exists, but Samsung's Google ties make this notable.
An inadvertent reveal of an updated Bixby assistant suggests Perplexity ties, positioning it against Google Gemini. Unveiling enhanced Bixby and Perplexity features fits naturally at Galaxy Unpacked.
On February 17, Samsung previewed AI-driven photo tools for Unpacked, extending S-series editing with day-to-night conversions, object restoration, low-light detail capture, and multi-image blending. While similar capabilities exist in apps like Google Photos, their S26 implementation awaits evaluation for uniqueness and efficacy.