What Will The New Galaxy Phone In 2026 Be Like?

There’s a new generation of Samsung Galaxy phones on the way in 2026. As we head into the new year, rumors are circulating online about what Samsung have in store for us, and we won’t have to wait long to find out. 

The company are holding their first event of the year at the Latour Ballroom in Las Vegas on January 4th. If history has taught us anything, it’s that we’ll get a whole host of news then, but what can we expect? 

Two New Galaxy Phones For 2026

We’ve scoured the internet for all the latest Samsung Galaxy rumors, and we’ve found unconfirmed reports of two new models of Galaxy S26 - these being the flagship Galaxy S26 Pro, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra. 

What are they like? We’re glad you ask! Let’s take a look:

The Samsung Galaxy S26

The most recent news about the upcoming S26 broke while we were writing this very article! Over on X, a user with the handle @onleaks posted images of dummy units for the S26 and S26 Ultra. 

Both models retain the sleek, smooth design of the S25. However, they notably had more rounded edges. There was one minor complaint about the S25 being uncomfortable to hold, but the curved corners should eliminate that. Samsung are taking ergonomics seriously. 

Ah, but what about the features? In the standard model S26, you can expect: 

• An adaptive lockscreen - A minor, but very cool alteration. The new Samsung lock screen will automatically adjust to your preferred wallpaper and position the clock around the image. 

• Improved security - Android is renowned for its security features, but Samsung is taking it a step further. The Failed Authentication Lock update is the big one, and ensures that sensitive apps like banking transactions require a password or fingerprint scan. If your phone gets stolen while unlocked, you’ll have a few less things to worry about. 

• Bluetooth Auracast - Auracast will be good news for anyone who wants to connect multiple sets of headphones to a single phone. Want to watch a movie with your spouse, but the baby has fallen asleep on your lap? Bluetooth Auracast will allow you to enjoy a film together without waking up the little one. 

• Storage Share - This one is pretty clever. The new Storage Share feature allows you to connect multiple Samsung devices and browse files on any of them without having to transfer them first. It’s a change that can potentially make modern living that little bit easier. 

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The Galaxy S26 Ultra includes all of the same features as the standard model, and at first glance, might be indistinguishable from it. Rest assured though, you’re not going to be paying extra for the sake of a slightly bigger handset. There are a few additional features that mark it out from its smaller brother.

From what we’ve found, the Galaxy S26 Ultra model will be the premier choice for anyone passionate about photography.  

• Enhanced video recording - The built-in camera assistant will let you choose the level of softness for your video recordings. You can opt for a softer, more natural-looking video or go for enhanced quality. 

• Different autofocus speeds - The camera assistant will also allow you to manually alter the autofocus speed and sensitivity while recording. In other words, if someone wanders into the shot, your camera needn’t autofocus on them. 

• A wider aperture - Samsung’s rear camera island is expected to return for the S26 Ultra. The phone is being fitted with a wider aperture, so you can take detailed photographs even if the light isn’t great. 

• Improved lens coating - The S26 Ultra is reported to have better lens coating than its predecessor. This is one of those upgrades that you may not even notice, but it’ll reduce lens flare and more accurately capture different skin tones. Your Uncle, who always looks yellow in family photos, will be very thankful. 

Both models of S26 are expected to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Chip, according to a leak on the Chinese social media site Weibo. And alongside this, they’ll also feature:

• 16 GB of RAM (an increase of 4GB)

• An increased battery capacity

• Improved wireless charging 

When Are The New Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Phones Out?

This is all very exciting news for us, but when can we expect to actually get hold of the new Galaxy S26 devices? At the time of writing, the release date hasn’t been confirmed, but based on how quickly the leaks are springing, it won’t be long. 

Samsung has officially unveiled its new releases at the Galaxy Unpacked events, which are typically held in January. With mere hours left in 2025 though, no event has been announced and there are rumors that it’s been delayed until February. If this is true, the likely retail release will be sometime in early March. 

Wait, What About The Galaxy S26 Edge?

Good question! Some of you may remember talk about a slimline addition to the series, known as the Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge. Why have we only mentioned two out of the three phones?

Sadly, it’s been cancelled. Its immediate predecessor - the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge - wasn’t a top seller, and while we thought it was a pretty decent phone, we can understand why Samsung decided to throw in the towel. 

While that is unfortunate, let’s not forget how much we have to be excited about. Here at Ghostek, we’re all shameless phone nerds, and we can’t help being intrigued by all the recent news about Samsung phones. 

We’ll be watching the company like a hawk and can’t wait to find out how many of these rumors are true, and which are just…well, rumors. It’s an interesting time, and we only have a few weeks to wait. 

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With so much in the pipeline, it can be easy to get lost. But we’re passionate about mobile phone technology, so let us do it for you! 

Keep checking back at Ghostek for all the latest news and advice. You won’t find bigger phone fans than us. You can also check out our collection of Galaxy S series accessories online.