Samsung Galaxy S26: Release Date, Price & Specs Rumours

Design

Beyond potential name changes, there’s currently no confirmed information regarding specific design elements such as materials (glass, metal, or a combination), colour options, or overall aesthetic choices.

There’s a chance that the titanium frame, which is currently exclusive to the Ultra and Edge, will be applied to other model/s.

Luke Baker / Foundry

Given that Samsung has changed the design slightly on the Galaxy S25 series, from the Galaxy S24 series, its successor is likely to have the same look. However, it’d be nice to see the Bluetooth S Pen from the Galaxy S24 Ultra make a return, after it was replaced by a less functional one on the S25 Ultra.

Sources: The Elec |

Display

One significant display development could be the integration of Colour-filter-on-thin-film-encapsulation (CoE) technology into the S26 Ultra’s display.

This technology has the potential to make the display thinner, brighter, and more energy-efficient.

Luke Baker / Foundry

However, details regarding display size, resolution, refresh rate, and the inclusion of advanced features such as under-display cameras or fingerprint sensors remain unknown at this time.

Performance

One source suggests Samsung will “definitely” return to prioritising the use of its own Exynos processors in the S26 series. Specifically, it looks like that’ll be Exynos 2600.

However, it’s unclear if this would include North America, which has exclusively used Snapdragon chipsets in recent years, even when Exynos-powered non-Ultra models were available in Europe. It’d be a surprise to see no Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 two models appear in any region.

For those who don’t remember, the Exynos 990 chipset was scarcely available when the Galaxy S20 launched. But this turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as the processor was underpowered compared to its Snapdragon counterpart.

Luke Baker / Foundry

Information regarding specific processors, RAM configurations, and storage options is currently unavailable.

Sources: Jukanlosreve on X | The Bell | The Financial News

Cameras

The Galaxy S26 Ultra may feature a cutting-edge 200Mp periscope telephoto camera, up from 50Mp on the S25 Ultra. However, there may only be one 200Mp sensor, rather than two.

This would align Samsung with a growing trend among Chinese phone manufacturers who are increasingly incorporating high-resolution periscope lenses into their flagship devices. It’d be great to see the S26 Ultra get such a meaningful telephoto upgrade.

Elsewhere, the regular Galaxy S26’s primary camera could come with a variable aperture. This would adapt to different lighting conditions, improving both bright daylight shots and low-light performance.

There are multiple ways that Samsung could implement this feature. The tech giant could go for a dual-aperture option à la the Galaxy S9 (from back in 2019). Or, more likely, Samsung could follow Xiaomi’s lead with the 14 Ultra and let you pick from multiple aperture options.

Luke Baker / Foundry

However, the front-facing camera might not be so impressive. The S26 Ultra could feature a UDC (Under Display Camera) on the front, eliminating the punch-hole selfie camera we see on the S25 Ultra, though it’s also possible that Samsung will hold off for a bit longer

The problem? Every under-display selfie lens currently on the market offers mediocre image quality at best, including Samsung’s own Galaxy Z Fold 6. We’d have to see a major upgrade to make it good enough for people who enjoy high-quality selfies.

Details on the camera systems for the rest of the S26 series, including sensor sizes, video recording capabilities, and specific camera features such as advanced AI photography modes, remain under wraps.

Sources: PandaFlash on X | Ice Universe on Weibo | kro (Good bye) on X | PandaFlash on X (2) | Lanzuk on Naver

Battery & Charging

Silicon-carbon battery technology is a potential contender for the S26 series, introducing the possibility of boosting battery capacities up to the 6000-7000mAh range.

This technology also holds the promise of higher energy density, potentially leading to improved battery life and faster charging speeds.

However, it’s still possible that the S26 Ultra’s battery won’t be larger than 5500mAh, even if it makes the shift. It’s unclear if a silicon-carbon battery will be reserved for the Ultra or available on other Galaxy S26 models.

Luke Baker / Foundry

As a reminder, even the top-end Galaxy S25 Ultra is limited to a 5000mAh battery with 45W wired charging and 15W wireless.

Sources: Ice Universe on Weibo | Jukanlosreve on X | The Financial News | PandaFlash on X

Software

The S26 series is expected to launch with Android 16 as its operating system. Samsung will likely overlay it with its custom user interface, which is expected to be known as One UI 8.

Specific software features, user interface enhancements, and the extent of security updates are yet to be announced, but you can expect even more new Galaxy AI features.

Luke Baker / Foundry

Samsung is also likely to continue with its class-leading promise of seven years of both OS and security updates for all the Galaxy S26 phones.