Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Everything to Know Before Wednesday's Galaxy Unpacked 2026 Launch
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is days away from its official debut. Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S26 series on February 25, 2026, live from San Francisco at 1:00 p.m. ET — the company's first Galaxy Unpacked event of the year. With a mountain of leaks, official teasers, and benchmark scores already in the wild, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra enters Unpacked 2026 as one of the most thoroughly pre-revealed flagship smartphones in Samsung's history. Here is everything confirmed and expected before the curtain rises Wednesday.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Specs: What's Inside the Beast
The Galaxy S26 Ultra will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor globally, carrying the "For Galaxy" branding, which could mean a slightly overclocked primary core reaching up to 4.74 GHz. The chip has already made headlines before launch — the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra thrashed the iPhone 17 Pro Max in the latest Geekbench 6 benchmark run.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 For Galaxy |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Storage Options | 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB |
| Main Camera | 200MP primary sensor |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh |
| Battery Life | Up to 31 hours |
| Charging Speed | 60W wired fast charging |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Armor 2 |
| Operating System | Android 16, up to 7 major OS upgrades |
| Colors | 5 options including Sky Blue |
A new leaked promo image confirms that even with 60W fast charging, the S26 Ultra will charge up to 75% in just 30 minutes.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's Biggest New Feature: Privacy Display
The most talked-about innovation on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a world-first for smartphones. Chief among new features is the rumored Privacy Display — a built-in version of the screen-blocking protective films and panels that consumers currently buy as an add-on accessory. This feature restricts screen visibility to those directly in front of the device, ensuring that sensitive information remains private even in crowded or public settings — whether commuting on a busy train, working in a shared office, or attending a meeting. The Privacy Display is highly customizable, allowing users to control which content is obscured — including notifications, sensitive images, or lock screen details — and may include an automatic activation mode that detects crowded environments without requiring manual input.
Galaxy S26 Ultra Camera Upgrades: What Photographers Need to Know
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra camera system is receiving meaningful refinements in both hardware and software for 2026. The S26 Ultra is said to have an 85-degree field of view, up from the 80 degrees on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, resulting in a larger camera punch-hole. On the software side, code snippets found in the unreleased One UI 8.5 point to a new Camera Assistant that adds settings and toggles for video recording — specifically sharpness and autofocus speed controls — allowing users to achieve more cinematic-looking videos.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Price, Preorders, and Release Date
Samsung's next big flagship lands February 25, with retail sales kicking off March 11. Preorders will begin immediately after the device launch. The expected starting price is $1,299 USD for the base 256 GB configuration — unchanged from the S25 Ultra's launch price. Samsung's launch-day incentives for the S26 Ultra are the strongest the company has fielded in years. The headliner is storage: 512 GB at the 256 GB price point — worth roughly $120. S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra owners are looking at $800 to $900 in trade-in credit, potentially slashing the final bill to around $500.
Samsung is reportedly dropping the 128 GB base storage option altogether — meaning every Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra buyer starts at 256 GB as the new minimum.
Galaxy Unpacked 2026: What Else Samsung Could Announce
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will not be alone on the Unpacked 2026 stage. Samsung is expected to announce at least three Galaxy S26 series devices, and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro have been leaked in full ahead of the event. Samsung is also hosting the PlayGalaxy Cup: PUBG Mobile Global Open as part of the Galaxy S26 Ultra celebration on February 26 in San Francisco at 5:00 p.m. ET — open to gaming fans who RSVP through Samsung's official form.
Should You Buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Now or Wait?
For S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra owners, buying on preorder day one — February 25 — makes the most financial sense. The trade-in peak and double storage deal will not realign like this again until the S27 cycle. For someone paying in cash or upgrading from a much older device, patience pays — aggressive cash discounts of up to $300 will materialize in the months that follow launch. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra arrives Wednesday. The countdown is on.
