Samsung Galaxy S26 Series: What to Expect from the 2026 Flagships

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series is generating significant buzz, with leaks revealing key specifications and features for the upcoming lineup. Expected to launch on February 25th at 1 pm ET (10 am PT), the S26 series – encompassing the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra – promises advancements in processing power, camera technology, and display features. Here’s a detailed look at what consumers can anticipate.

Processor Power: Exynos 2600 vs. Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Samsung is adopting a regional split strategy for its processors. The Galaxy S26 and S26+ models destined for Europe, Korea, India, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia will be powered by the Samsung-designed and built Exynos 2600 . This 2nm System on Chip (SoC) incorporates a Heat Pass Block, aiming for a 30% improvement in cooling compared to previous Exynos processors, addressing a common criticism.

The flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra, however, will likely feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy in the US and China . This variant boasts slightly overclocked Prime CPU cores for enhanced performance. The Galaxy S26 Pro is also expected to utilize the Exynos 2600 in most markets .

Enhanced Performance and AI Capabilities

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the Galaxy S26 Ultra is set to deliver significant performance gains. The Neural Processing Unit (NPU) will make AI processing 39% faster compared to the previous generation . The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is expected to provide a 24% improvement in graphics performance, while the Central Processing Unit (CPU) will process data 19% faster than the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Camera Advancements

The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s camera system is poised for upgrades. It will feature a 200MP main camera, a 50MP Ultra Wide Angle lens, a 50MP Periscope Telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, a 10MP Telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP selfie camera . Samsung has reportedly widened the aperture on the Periscope Telephoto lens to improve low-light image quality.

Display and Battery Improvements

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to have a slightly larger physical footprint than its predecessor, being both taller and wider, but also thinner. The battery capacity will remain at 5000 mAh, but wired charging speeds will increase to 60W from 45W . Wireless charging could also see a modest increase to 25W with Qi2 charging, up from 15W-20W.

New Features: Privacy Display and Photo Assist

Samsung is introducing a new “Privacy Display” feature on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, designed to prevent screen spying by limiting visibility from angles other than directly in front of the device. “Photo Assist,” a suite of generative AI tools integrated into the Gallery app, will allow users to creatively edit photos, such as transforming a simple image into a birthday scene for a pet .

Galaxy Buds 4 and 4 Pro

Alongside the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 series and the Galaxy Buds 4/Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are expected to be unveiled on February 25th at 1 pm ET (10 am PT).