Samsung Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+: What is known so far
The official launch of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series will take place on February 25th. As usual, there will be three models. We’ve already looked at the leaks regarding the Galaxy S26 Ultra, now it’s time to do the same for the other two models. Here’s what is known so far about Samsung’s upcoming flagship phones.
No Samsung Galaxy S26 Pro and no Edge
Samsung has never officially confirmed it, but reports indicate that the company was developining a Galaxy S26 Pro as a successor to the standard model and a Galaxy S26 Edge as the successor to the Plus model. The weak sales figures of the S25 Edge however ensured that the latter would not be realized. As for the S26 Pro, it’s unclear why the project was discontinued; it may have simply been a rebranding. In any case, the S26 Pro and the S26 Edge will not be released.
The decision to discontinue the Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge came quite late, and insiders claim Samsung had to rush to finish the Galaxy S26+ in time. This means the Plus model won’t receive a display upgrade – the 2026 model is expected to use a nearly identical display to the S25+. It is rumored to get better glass (see below), but that’s about it.
Samsung Galaxy S26 wird größer und leichter
Unlike the Plus model, the Samsung Galaxy S26 will have an improved display. It is said to feature a new 6.27-inch panel compared to the 6.16 inches of the previous models (in most data sheets the figure is likely rounded up to 6.3 inches).
According to an unconfirmed leak, the standard model of the S26 will be about 3 mm taller and 1 mm wider than its predecessor.
The standard model will be equipped with a larger battery, but more on that in a moment. First, let’s talk about the expected weight: It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a mass-market smartphone under 140g. That is, of course, assuming these figures are correct. There’s also talk of 167g (that would be 5g more than the Galaxy S25).
According to an unconfirmed report, all three models will be equipped with Gorilla Armor 2 glass, the special anti-reflective lens that was only used on the Ultra last year. However, this information should be treated with caution. Furthermore, the new privacy screen will be exclusive to the Ultra.
Battery and charging
As you saw above, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ has the same 4,900 mAh battery capacity as its predecessor – this was confirmed by TÜV certification a few months ago. It also continues to support 45W wired charging but faster wireless charging with 20 watts instead of 15 watts.
Regarding the standard model, Samsung has reportedly increased the battery capacity of the Galaxy S26 by 300 mAh, bringing it to a total of 4,300 mAh. Nevertheless, there have already been rumors that the S26 will also support 45-watt charging.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 series does not have any integrated magnets. This was confirmed by the WPC certification, in which all three Galaxy smartphones were only listed with support for the Qi 2.2.1 basic charging profile (without magnetic charging). Customers wishing to use magnetic charging and/or other magnetic accessories must first purchase a magnetic case.
However, that won’t stop Samsung from developing a magnetic Qi2 charger and offer a magnetic Qi2 power bank. The charger boasts a maximum charging output of 25 watts, which is also supported by the S26 Ultra. The other two models reach a maximum of 20 watts. The power bank can deliver 15 watts to the smartphone and can itself be charged via USB-C at up to 20 watts.
Exynos 2600 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Recently, a Korean Samsung Galaxy S26 was spotted with an Exynos 2600 processor during in a Geekbench test. Previously, a device destined for the US ran the benchmark with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Therefore, Samsung is expected to keep its regional chipset split. This also applies to the Galaxy S26+. Only the S26 Ultra will exclusively use Snapdragon chips.
The Snapdragon processor is probably quite familiar by now. It’s possible this is a “Galaxy” model, but that shouldn’t make much of a difference, at least not based on these benchmark results. Keep in mind, however, that the performance of pre-release hardware and software doesn’t necessarily reflect the performance of the final retail model.
Here are some important details about the Exynos 2600. It is the world’s first mobile 2nm chipset, as it is manufactured using Samsung Foundry’s 2nm GAA process. It features a 10-core CPU with ARM C1 cores (one Ultra core at 3.8 GHz, three Pro cores at 3.25 GHz, and six power-saving Pro cores at 2.75 GHz). This is paired with an Xclipse 960 GPU.
According to Samsung, the CPU of the new chipset is 39% faster than its predecessor, while the GPU offers 50% higher ray tracing performance. The new NPU delivers a massive 113% performance increase in AI applications.
256 GB Base Storage for S26, no Changes for S26+
Although the S25 finally received 12 GB of RAM, it still only offered 128 GB of internal storage. According to several leaks, that’s about to change. The Samsung Galaxy S26 will be offered in 256 GB and 512 GB storage variants, just like the Galaxy S26+.
Samsung Galaxy S26 cameras
Samsung several short videos with the camera improvements of the Galaxy S26 series. However, no specific technical data came to light.
Meanwhile, leaks paint a bleak picture. The Samsung Galaxy S26 will reuse the cameras from the Galaxy S25. This means a 50MP main camera with a 1/1.56-inch sensor, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x zoom and a 1/3.94-inch sensor, and a 12MP ultrawide camera with a 1/2.55-inch sensor.
The S26+ will, as usual, have the same camera equipment as its standard counterpart.
In fact, the camera hardware hasn’t changed since the Galaxy S23. While the software is continuously being developed, we can look forward to the first comparison tests with the Apple iPhone 17 series.
Satellite Communication
Another area where Samsung lagged behind was the introduction of Satellite communication. The Samsung Galaxy S26 series will finally change this, as the FCC approval for the US variants of the S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra includes Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) and Supplemental Coverage From Space (SCS).
You may even be able to receive satellite calls. However, please note that hardware capabilities also depend on local rules, regulations, and the availability of satellite services.
Furthermore, the standard model of the Samsung Galaxy S26 is finally expected to offer UWB connectivity, thus closing the gap to the Plus and Ultra models. This is important because it enables direction finding when tracking smart tags.
Prices
The upgrade of the base storage in the Samsung Galaxy S26 to 256 GB is likely to be reflected in the price. The 512 GB version, on the other hand, is expected to be a bit cheaper. The Samsung Galaxy S26+ should cost the same as its predecessor in the 256GB version, while the 512GB version may be slightly more expensive.
During the pre-order phase, Samsung will most likely offer free storage upgrades as usual (e.g., 512GB models for the price of a 256GB model), as well as other benefits such as trade-in bonuses and a small discount (€30/$30) for participants in the pre-order program.
Source 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21
