SAN FRANCISCO — Samsung Electronics plans to hold its first Galaxy Unpacked event of 2026 in San Francisco on February 25, where the company is widely expected to announce the Galaxy S26 series, including the standard S26, S26 Plus, and premium S26 Ultra models. The presentation, which begins at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) and will be streamed live on Samsung’s website, YouTube channel, and other platforms, will focus on evolving the company’s Galaxy AI platform to make artificial intelligence more personal and integrate it into everyday smartphone use.
The event comes as competition intensifies in the AI-driven smartphone market, with Samsung aiming to enhance the capabilities of its Galaxy S25 lineup while meeting user demands for improved efficiency, privacy and creative tools. Pre-orders are already open and incentives include a $30 Samsung credit, up to $900 in trade-in value, and a $5,000 store credit sweepstakes. Analysts expect the S26 series to emphasize evolutionary improvements over revolutionary changes, prioritizing AI maturation and hardware tweaks for improved performance.
Samsung teases that the new device will “simplify everyday interactions” through Galaxy AI, positioning it as the “next AI phone.” The invitation highlights a shift to user-centered intelligence, with features designed to handle tasks conversationally and adapt to individual needs. This includes multi-agent AI support, allowing users to choose from a variety of AI providers for specialized functionality. A key addition is integration with Perplexity, an AI-powered search engine built into apps like Notes, Gallery, Calendar, Reminders, and Clock. Users can activate it with a “Hey Plex” voice command or side button assignment to enable natural language queries for web searches and more complex tasks.
Bixby, Samsung’s voice assistant, is also being relaunched with One UI 8.5 based on Android 16. The updated Bixby processes commands in everyday language without requiring precise terminology to handle device navigation, troubleshooting, and app interaction. For example, a user can describe a problem such as “Why is my battery draining quickly?” And you can receive advice tailored to you. Perplexity supports Bixby’s web-related queries, but basic tasks remain on the device for privacy.
Camera enhancements are another highlight, with Samsung promising a “seamless Galaxy camera experience” that unifies capture, editing, and sharing. New AI tools let you recreate missing elements in your photos, including filling in cropped areas and intelligently enhancing details. It is expected to improve low-light video performance with advanced noise reduction and brighter footage. This system aims to speed up workflow by eliminating app switching and allowing users to edit directly in the camera interface. Additional rumored AI features include “Now Nudge,” a context-aware assistant that proactively suggests actions based on a user’s habits, and “Ask AI” in the Samsung Internet browser for summarizing web content and answering queries on the fly.
Hardware rumors indicate modest upgrades overall. The Galaxy S26 is expected to feature a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with Full HD+ resolution (2,340 x 1,080 pixels), 120Hz refresh rate, and Corning Gorilla Armor 2 for added durability. The S26 Plus expands the screen to 6.7 inches, while the S26 Ultra boasts a 6.9-inch WQHD+ panel (potentially 1,800 x 3,440 pixels) with up to 144Hz refresh. Brightness can reach 2,600 nits on the base model.
Processor options will likely vary by region, with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the US and China and Exynos 2600 elsewhere. The Ultra is likely to come with an overclocked Snapdragon variant with a 4.74 GHz prime core for better performance. Benchmarks show significant improvements for the Snapdragon model, with single-core scores of around 3,800 and multi-core scores of over 9,800, over previous models.
RAM all starts at 12GB, with the Ultra offering 16GB in higher configurations. Storage options include 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB with UFS 4.0, but the base S26 and Plus may skip 128GB entirely. The battery is rumored to be 4,300mAh (25W charging) for the S26, approximately 4,900mAh for the Plus (45W), and 5,000mAh for the Ultra (60W wired, claimed to charge 75% in 30 minutes). All support wireless charging, and the Ultra’s battery life is estimated at around 31 hours.
The camera setup looks largely unchanged, but has been refined. The S26 and S26 Plus are expected to have a 50MP main sensor, 12MP ultra-wide angle, 10MP 3x telephoto, and 12MP front camera. The Ultra keeps the primary 200MP and upgrades to 10MP 3x and 12MP selfies, plus a 50MP ultrawide and 50MP 5x periscope. Ultra’s unique standout product is its “Flex Magic Pixel” privacy display, which adjusts pixel-level viewing angles to prevent shoulder surfing in public.
Pricing rumors say the starting price in the US will be $799 for the S26, $999 for the Plus, and $1,299 for the Ultra, the same as the S25 series. However, the global RAM shortage may lead to price increases in some markets, and the European S26 could cost as much as 999 euros. Pre-order benefits may include 2x storage upgrades (like 256GB to 512GB) and enhanced trade-ins. Pre-orders will begin immediately after Unpacked and are expected to be released around March 11th.
Accessories such as the Galaxy Buds 4 may also be announced at the event, and Samsung has promised seven years of software updates for its S26 lineup. Experts say that while AI integration has the potential to differentiate the series, success will depend on ease of use in the real world and avoiding fragmentation of functionality between models. As Samsung faces rivals such as Apple’s iPhone 18 and Google’s Pixel 11, the S26’s combination of hardware reliability and AI innovation will be key to maintaining its dominance as a flagship product.
With the announcement just days away and leaks and teasers raising expectations, Samsung’s full vision for “truly personal” AI is yet to be revealed.
