Samsung S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra Release Date, Price, Specs, and Where To Buy

Samsung has officially announced the Galaxy S26 series at the Galaxy Unpacked February 2026 event in San Francisco. The event was livestreamed online for global audiences.

The Galaxy S26 lineup includes the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and the flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra. Here’s a complete roundup of everything announced, including release dates, pricing, and specifications for the new Galaxy S26 models, which will compete with devices like Apple’s iPhone 17 and the Google Pixel 10.

Samsung S26 Release Date

With the Galaxy S26 series now officially announced, pre-orders for the smartphones are already live. The devices are scheduled to begin shipping on March 11, roughly two weeks after the announcement.

Samsung S26 Pre-Order & Bonuses

Samsung is offering several incentives for early buyers of its new AI-powered smartphones through the company’s website, including:

• $30 Samsung credit during pre-order

• Up to $900 in additional savings through trade-ins and promotions

• A chance to win $5,000 in Samsung store credit

UK customers may see similar offers, including:

• £30 voucher for Galaxy products

• A chance to win a £500 voucher

• Free upgrade from 256GB to 512GB storage on pre-orders

Samsung S26 Price

The Galaxy S26 series is now available for pre-order. The base 256GB models of the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ see a slight price increase of about $100 compared to the previous generation, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra remains priced at $1,299.Amazon is already running pre-order promotions on the smartphones, with discounts ranging from 10% to 24% ahead of the March 11 release date.

256GB Models

• Galaxy S26 — $899.99
• Galaxy S26+ — $1,099.99
• Galaxy S26 Ultra — $1,299.99
  

512GB Models

• Galaxy S26 — $1,099.99
• Galaxy S26+ — $1,299.99
• Galaxy S26 Ultra — $1,499.99
  

1TB Model

• Galaxy S26 Ultra — $1,799.99

Samsung S26 Specs

The Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ share very similar hardware, with the main differences being display size, battery capacity, and overall weight. The Galaxy S26 features a 6.3-inch display, while the Galaxy S26+ has a larger 6.7-inch screen.

Galaxy S26 and S26+

Both models include:

• 12MP front-facing camera
• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor
• 12GB RAM
• 256GB or 512GB storage options
• Triple rear camera system:
  
• • 50MP main camera
  • 12MP ultrawide camera
  • 10MP telephoto camera

Galaxy S26 Ultra

The high-end Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra brings more significant upgrades. The flagship smartphone specifications include:

• 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display
• 5,000mAh battery
• 16GB RAM
• Up to 1TB storage
• 12MP front-facing camera
• Quad rear camera system:
  
  • 200MP main camera
  • 50MP ultrawide camera
  • 10MP telephoto camera
  • 50MP periscope telephoto camera

For photography, the Galaxy S26 Ultra focuses heavily on high-resolution imaging. It will be interesting to see how it compares with the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro, particularly in low-light performance and image processing. Samsung is also introducing several new AI-powered editing tools along with Nightography Video, which captures clearer and more vibrant footage in low-light conditions.

Colors and Design

Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S26 series will be available in four standard colors: White, Black, Cobalt Violet, and Sky Blue. The Pink Gold and Silver Shadow color options will be available exclusively through Samsung’s online store.

Where to Buy the Galaxy S26

The Galaxy S26 series is now available for pre-order through Samsung’s official online store and major retailers, including Amazon. The pre-order period runs until March 4, with devices scheduled to begin shipping on March 11, 2026.

Amazon is currently offering discounts across all three models, ranging from 10% to 24%, while Samsung is offering trade-in discounts of up to $900.

The early pre-order window is usually the best time to take advantage of storage upgrades, promotional credits, and trade-in deals.

Samsung Unveils Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra at Galaxy Unpacked

Samsung has officially unveiled its latest flagship smartphones with the new Galaxy S26 series. The lineup includes the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, and introduces updated Galaxy AI features, a built-in Privacy Display, upgraded cameras, and improved performance.

Samsung says the S26 series is designed to simplify everyday tasks through AI-powered features that work quietly in the background. Galaxy AI can assist with tasks such as managing schedules, searching for information, and editing photos.

“We believe AI should be something people can depend on every day, designed to work consistently for everyone and without the need for expertise,” said TM Roh, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Head of Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics. “With the Galaxy S26 series, we focused on making AI feel effortless, working quietly in the background so people can focus on what matters.”

Faster Performance and Improved Cooling

The Samsung Galaxy S26 series is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, giving the smartphones the performance needed to run AI tools, games, and demanding applications.

Samsung says the Galaxy S26 Ultra delivers up to 19% faster CPU performance, 24% faster GPU performance, and a 39% improvement in AI processing compared to the previous generation.

The Ultra model also features a redesigned vapor chamber cooling system that spreads heat more efficiently across the device. This helps maintain consistent performance during demanding tasks such as gaming and high-resolution video recording.

Built-In Privacy Display

One of the standout features of the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the built-in Privacy Display, which Samsung says is the first of its kind on a smartphone.

The feature limits side-angle visibility when enabled, helping prevent others from viewing the screen in public settings such as transit or cafés. Unlike traditional privacy screen protectors, the integrated system maintains full display quality when the feature is turned off.

Users can customize when privacy mode activates, such as when entering passwords or opening selected apps.

Camera Features and Video Improvements

Photography remains a key focus of the Galaxy S26 series, with Samsung integrating capture, editing, and sharing into a seamless experience.

All three models feature a 12-megapixel front-facing camera with a wider field of view, making it easier to capture more people or more of the scene in selfies.

The Galaxy S26 and S26+ feature a triple-camera system consisting of a 50-megapixel main camera with 2x optical zoom, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The camera system is powered by Samsung’s ProVisual Engine, which enhances detail, color, and clarity.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra features a 200-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 50-megapixel telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom and 10x Optical Quality Zoom.

Samsung is also introducing Nightography Video on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which captures clearer and more vibrant footage in low-light conditions.

All three smartphones include the Super Steady feature with a horizontal lock option that helps stabilize footage and maintain consistent framing when recording video while moving.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra also introduces support for APV, a new professional video codec designed to preserve image quality even after multiple rounds of editing.

Galaxy AI Editing Tools

Samsung’s Photo Assist tools allow users to transform photos using Galaxy AI. Users can add objects, restore details, reframe images, or apply new styles using simple text prompts.

Photos can also be turned into custom stickers or wallpapers using Creative Studio.

Smarter Galaxy AI Features

The Galaxy S26 series introduces more advanced Galaxy AI features designed to make everyday tasks easier.

Now Nudge provides contextual suggestions, such as recommending photos to share when someone requests them in a message or checking calendar conflicts when scheduling meetings.

Now Brief provides reminders and updates based on personal context, including travel information and reservations.

Circle to Search with Google has also been upgraded to support searching multiple objects within the same image.

The Galaxy S26 series also features an improved version of Bixby with more natural language interaction, alongside support for AI assistants including Gemini and Perplexity.

Security and Privacy Enhancements

Samsung continues to emphasize privacy and security with the Galaxy S26 lineup.

New features include AI-powered call screening that identifies unknown callers and summarizes their intent. Privacy Alerts notify users when apps attempt to access sensitive data such as location or contacts.

A new Private Album feature allows users to hide photos and videos directly within the Gallery app.

The Galaxy S26 series also includes post-quantum cryptography protection for system processes and Knox security enhancements across connected Galaxy devices.

Availability

The Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra will be available for pre-order starting February 25. The smartphones will begin shipping on March 11. 

All three models share a unified design and will be available in Cobalt Violet, White, Black, and Sky Blue, along with Samsung.com-exclusive Pink Gold and Silver Shadow options.