Samsung Galaxy S26: What we know so far and early leaks

The next flagship of Samsung’s Galaxy S is already taking shape in leaks, regulatory crumbs, and suppliers’ chatter. None of that is set in stone, but we’re starting to get a good idea about the lineup that varies the formula in significant ways, from battery tech and cameras to screens and software driven by AI.

Launch expectations and a potential lineup shake-up

Samsung has long updated the Galaxy S family on a schedule, so there’s no shortage of excitement around what will follow at the next Unpacked. Several database sightings and supply-chain whispers point to a leaner lineup: the base model, a deluxe Ultra, and a third phone that might stand in for the Plus series, which has endured for several years. The community “sleuths” who track GSMA IMEI filings, however, have spotted model numbers that would correspond to such a transition, while veteran leakers posit a return of an “Edge” naming scheme to help separate the middle tier.

Design and displays: refinements, sizes, and privacy tech

Do not expect a wholesale redesign, but do expect refinement. Notorious Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station has suggested slightly larger dimensions for the base model’s display—just enough to creep ahead of the compact footprint of the current generation. The Ultra is said to keep its boxy shape with slight curvature manipulation to prevent palm touches.

The big talking point is display intelligence. Ice Universe has hinted at a “smart privacy” mode to reduce viewing angles, something Samsung Display has also showcased as part of its directional OLED initiative. If that tech (sometimes referred to as Magic Pixel in demo materials) is part of the retail units, it would be among the first consumer-facing privacy screens baked directly into a flagship panel instead of tacked on through an accessory.

Chips and performance: Snapdragon, Exynos, and AI focus

The processor tale is a familiar one yet significant. There will probably be a regional split between the new Snapdragon 8 series and Samsung’s proprietary Exynos silicon. Industry watchers think it will be a next-gen Snapdragon for markets that have mostly gone toward Qualcomm, and a new Exynos version for those on Samsung’s Exynos side. TrendForce reports also suggest Samsung Foundry’s 3 nm gate-all-around process has improved yields—good news if you’re trying to release Exynos chips that match Qualcomm’s in efficiency and sustained performance.

On-device AI will be a cornerstone, so expect that. Where Qualcomm has been chasing higher NPU throughput numbers for generative workloads, Samsung’s own NPU designs have prioritized mixed-precision efficiency. That can have real-world upsides: quicker voice summarization, photo remastering, and offline translation without the heat or battery penalties visible on older chips.

Memory, storage, and charging: specs and expectations

Some leakers allege that a baseline shift upward to 16 GB of RAM will happen across at least some lines. It’s a reasonable shift: both IDC and Counterpoint Research (the latter of which I also occasionally write for at PCMag) point out that more buyers are running AI features, multitasking, and high-refresh gaming—workloads that appreciate the extra memory headroom. As for storage, it is expected to be similar to what is currently offered, with UFS 4.0 being the standard.

Wired charging appears likely to remain conservative. Although higher-wattage prototypes exist within Samsung’s labs, the word on the street is that the next Galaxy S will hold at about 45 W for wired charging. Wireless may be more exciting: the Wireless Power Consortium’s Qi2 standard, which adds a magnetic alignment ring and significantly better efficiency, is said to be the goal across the lineup.

Battery life outlook: stacked cells and efficiency gains

Battery capacity is where change seems likely. Korean trade outlets like ETNews have previously reported on Samsung SDI’s layered smartphone battery approach, which adapts lessons from the automobile world to work around stagnating energy density within a single cell.

The Ultra is rumored to get a larger capacity; the base model is also believed to get a modest bump—anything to shift current-cycle focus from AI and onto endurance.

There’s even talk that Samsung is shrinking rear cameras, from four modules to three on some trims, to liberate internal volume for stacked cells and improved cooling. If the speculation is accurate, that’s subtraction in service of endurance, potentially yielding more than a day of use.

Cameras and imaging: sensors, zoom, and aperture rumors

It is anticipated that the Ultra will retain a 200 MP-class main sensor, not necessarily identical silicon. Insiders claim that there is a new ISOCELL GN-series or HP-series sensor, probably with better microlenses and full-well capacity, in the works for richer dynamic range and less noise at night. Leaks are far apart on this: some mention dual telephoto at approximately 3x and 8x native magnification, while others suggest a single periscope that improves optics and debuts in-sensor zoom.

One interesting rumor is that Samsung might bring back a variable aperture for the main camera, a feature it hasn’t used in several generations. Reborn with the aid of modern sensors and improved computational tuning, it might balance sharp daylight shots at higher f-stops with creamy low-light bokeh at wider apertures, lessening dependency on synthetic blur.

Software and AI features: One UI upgrades and privacy tools

Anticipate the very latest One UI layered over Android and an even more expanded Galaxy AI suite. A broader set of features is supposed to show off the phone beyond headline tricks like live translation and transcript summaries, too—there’s talk of Samsung polishing under-the-radar features such as privacy-aware screen dimming for side angles, smarter battery protection modes, and context-sensitive camera assistants. While buyers’ interest in the current Galaxy S generation has been driven by AI features (according to Counterpoint Research), it is not shocking Samsung is doubling down. Source: CNET.

Long-term support remains an effective weapon in competition. Samsung has raised the bar with prolonged OS and security support, so it’s likely—especially as enterprise and BYOD buyers are more sophisticated at factoring lifecycle into purchase decisions—that anything less for the next wave would be a surprise.

S Pen and accessories: magnetic alignment and cases

While the S Pen is rumored to stay with the Ultra, we’ve also heard rumblings that it will have tighter integration with magnetic accessories matching Qi2’s ring. That might allow for more reliable attachment, better charging alignment in cases, and new pen-enabled workflows (like the ability to take notes or annotate) too.

Bottom line: steady upgrades that matter day to day

The Galaxy S26 story on paper isn’t groundbreaking design; it’s smarter fundamentals—denser batteries, a more integrated camera stack, privacy-aware displays, and AI that runs faster on-device. If the leaks are correct, Samsung’s next flagship looks less like a rerun and more like a deliberate step forward that you’ll notice every day.