Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra launch: How to watch the Galaxy Unpacked event, expected specs, price and more

Samsung is set to unveil its next flagship lineup at its Galaxy Unpacked event tonight at 11:30 pm IST in San Francisco. The company is widely expected to launch the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, including the Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus and the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Here’s everything we know so far based on leaks, reports and Samsung’s own teasers.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Confirmed for February 25: Galaxy S26 Ultra launch expected


How to watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026 live

Samsung will livestream the event on its official website and its YouTube channel. The company’s Unpacked events typically run for about an hour and often include a surprise teaser at the end.

In previous years, Samsung previewed devices like the Galaxy Ring and the Galaxy S25 Edge during similar showcases.

Pre-orders could open as soon as the keynote ends or early tomorrow, if Samsung follows its usual launch pattern.

What to expect from the Galaxy S26 lineup

Multiple reports suggest Samsung will stick to its traditional three-model strategy this year with the Galaxy S26, the Galaxy S26 Plus, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Earlier rumours had hinted at a possible “Pro” rebrand and the discontinuation of the Plus model. However, Korean outlet NewsPim reported that Samsung dropped those plans, partly in response to Apple’s plan to upgrade its base iPhone without increasing prices. SamMobile separately corroborated that the S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra naming will continue.

The previously rumoured S26 Edge remains uncertain and may not launch alongside the main lineup.

Galaxy S26 Ultra design leaks

Leaker onleaks earlier had shared alleged dummy units of the Galaxy S26 Ultra on X, suggesting a design similar to its predecessor but with a camera bump similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

However, Android Police reported alternative leaks that do not show a camera bump, indicating conflicting information ahead of launch.

In terms of colours, leaker Evan Blass shared that the device could be avialable in Black, White, Silver Shadow, Sky Blue, Cobalt Violet, and Pink Gold. These options appear in line with Samsung’s typical flagship palette.

Processor, RAM and storage

The Galaxy S26 series is widely rumoured to feature Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip, now rebranded as Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

There are also reports that some models may use Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2600 chip in certain regions.

One notable rumour suggests all Galaxy S26 models could ship with 16 GB RAM, up from 12GB in recent years. If true, it would mark the highest RAM configuration in a Galaxy device since the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Storage options are expected to remain unchanged, with 128 GB as the base variant for the cheaper models and 256 GB for the Ultra.

Battery upgrades and stacked design

Battery upgrades could be one of the biggest changes this year. According to early leaks, Samsung is working on a stacked battery design that increases density without increasing physical size.

Galaxy S26 Ultra could feature a 5,500mAh battery, about a 10% increase from its predecessor. The base Galaxy S26 may get a 4,300mAh battery, as per NewsPim.

Reports also suggest Samsung experimented with removing a camera sensor to accommodate a larger battery, though it remains unclear if that made it into the final design.

AI features and new privacy tech

Samsung has teased a new “Privacy Display” feature, which reportedly combines hardware and software protection instead of relying solely on screen filters. However, we will only find out all the details during the launch event tonight.

With AI becoming central to flagship phones, new and advanced Galaxy AI features are also likely, though Samsung has not confirmed specifics. The company, however, recently announced that it will be integrating Perplexity AI's "Hey, Plex" assistant into its Gaalxy devices alongside the in-house Bixby and Google's Gemini.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S26 series to get Perplexity AI with 'Hey Plex' support

Launch timeline

Event: February 25 (11:30 pm IST)

Pre-orders: Likely open tonight or within 24 hours

Availability: Typically within two weeks of launch

Will the Galaxy S26 price increase?

Pricing remains uncertain.

Leaker kro_roe on X suggested that a global memory shortage — driven in part by AI-related demand — could push prices higher and potentially end Samsung’s popular “double storage” pre-order offer. However, at least one recent report indicates Samsung is trying to avoid a price hike, even if it means absorbing some of the cost increase.