Samsung is getting ready to launch its next flagship smartphones — the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. These phones will replace the current Galaxy S25 series. This year, however, Samsung is changing its usual launch schedule, which means the Galaxy S26 lineup will arrive later than expected.

This article explains everything we know so far about the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the rest of the S26 family, including launch dates, pre-orders, pricing, reviews, and store availability.

Samsung Changes Its Galaxy Unpacked Schedule

Samsung usually introduces its new Galaxy S phones at the Galaxy Unpacked event in mid or late January. This was the case for the Galaxy S23, S24, and S25 models.

In 2026, Samsung is breaking from that tradition. Instead of launching in January, the Galaxy S26 series is expected to be announced in late February.

Samsung follows a strict timeline for launching new phones. The entire launch is built around the Galaxy Unpacked event, which includes product reveals, pre-orders, and marketing campaigns. Any delay in planning or production can move the entire schedule.

Earlier rumors suggested Samsung would launch three different models:

  • Galaxy S26 Ultra

  • Galaxy S26 Edge

  • Galaxy S26 Pro

The Ultra would be the top model, the Edge would focus on a slim design, and the Pro would replace the standard base model with better specifications.

However, this plan changed.

Why Samsung Dropped the Edge and Pro Models

Reports suggest that the Galaxy S25 Edge did not sell well. Because of this, Samsung decided not to continue with another Edge model for the S26 lineup.

At the same time, Samsung noticed that Apple had strong sales with the iPhone 17, which kept the same starting price of $799 as the iPhone 16. This made Samsung rethink its pricing strategy.

Instead of launching a more expensive “Pro” model, Samsung chose to keep the familiar lineup:

  • Galaxy S26

  • Galaxy S26+

  • Galaxy S26 Ultra

This allows Samsung to keep the base model at a competitive price and avoid confusing buyers.

The changes also caused production delays, which pushed the launch date from January to February.

Galaxy Unpacked Event Date and Location

Two trusted smartphone insiders, Evan Blass (@evleaks) and Ice Universe, have confirmed key launch details.

Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event will take place:

  • Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026

  • Location: San Francisco

Last year’s Galaxy Unpacked event started at:

  • 1:00 PM Eastern Time

  • 10:00 AM Pacific Time

Samsung is expected to follow a similar schedule this year.

When Will Samsung Announce the Galaxy Unpacked Event?

Before the launch itself, Samsung will officially announce the Galaxy Unpacked date and send out invitations.

In 2025, Samsung announced the January 22 Unpacked event on January 6. That announcement happened on the first day of CES, the world’s largest tech show. This helped Samsung stay at the center of global tech news.

In 2026, Samsung appears to be using the same strategy. The Mobile World Congress (MWC) begins in Barcelona on March 2. By holding Galaxy Unpacked just one week earlier, Samsung can dominate tech headlines before MWC begins.

If Samsung keeps the same schedule as last year, Galaxy Unpacked invitations should be sent out during the week starting Monday, February 9.

A Fourth Model: Galaxy S26 FE

Samsung is also expected to launch a fourth phone later in the year — the Galaxy S26 FE (Fan Edition).

Fan Edition phones offer many of the same features as flagship models but at a lower price. They are designed for users who want strong performance without paying premium prices.

Examples of similar phones include:

  • Pixel 9a compared to Pixel 9 Pro

  • iPhone 16e compared to iPhone 16 Pro Max

The Galaxy S25 FE launched in September 2025, several months after the main S25 lineup. Samsung is likely to follow the same pattern with the S26 FE.

The S26 FE is expected to arrive much later than the main models and serve as a more affordable Galaxy phone through 2026.

Galaxy S26 Ultra Pre-Order Details

Samsung usually opens pre-orders right after the Galaxy Unpacked event ends. This helps capture excitement from viewers watching the live stream.

The same is expected for the Galaxy S26 series. Pre-orders are likely to begin on February 25, right after the keynote finishes.

Possible Pre-Order Offers

Samsung often includes special deals during the pre-order period, such as:

  • Higher trade-in values

  • Free accessories

  • Storage upgrades

One popular offer is the “double storage” deal, where buyers get more storage at no extra cost. For example:

  • Pay for 128GB and receive 256GB

  • Pay for 256GB and receive 512GB

  • Pay for 512GB and receive 1TB

However, rising memory and storage costs may put this offer at risk. RAM and storage are becoming more expensive, making it harder for Samsung to continue this promotion.

Still, Samsung sells many devices directly through its own website, which gives it more control over pricing. This means the company may still keep the double storage deal, at least for early buyers.

Galaxy S26 Ultra Pricing Expectations

Samsung will officially reveal pricing at the Galaxy Unpacked event. However, looking at previous models gives a good idea of what to expect.

The Galaxy S25 prices were:

  • Galaxy S25: $799

  • Galaxy S25+: $999

  • Galaxy S25 Ultra: $1,299

Samsung is expected to keep the same starting prices for the Galaxy S26 lineup.

The decision to cancel the Galaxy S26 Pro strongly suggests that Samsung wants to protect the $799 entry-level price. Matching Apple’s pricing helps Samsung remain competitive in the premium smartphone market.

Could Prices Increase?

Although Samsung wants to keep prices stable, rising component costs may lead to small changes:

  • Higher storage versions may become more expensive

  • Base prices could increase by around $50

  • Samsung may raise prices on Galaxy A series phones instead to balance costs

A small price increase for higher storage models seems more likely than a major price jump for the base models.

Galaxy S26 Ultra Reviews Timeline

Once Galaxy Unpacked is over, tech reviewers will start publishing early reviews.

In previous years, reviews appeared about one week after launch events. These reviews usually focus on:

  • Camera quality

  • Battery life

  • Performance

  • Display improvements

This year, review timing may be tricky because it overlaps with Mobile World Congress. Samsung must decide whether to release reviews during MWC or wait until the event ends.

Releasing reviews during MWC would be risky, but Samsung has done similar things before. Last year, Galaxy Unpacked overlapped with CES, and Samsung still gained massive attention.

Galaxy S26 Ultra Retail Release Date

Most smartphone makers wait about two weeks between launch and in-store availability. Samsung usually releases phones on Fridays.

Based on the February 25 launch date, possible retail dates include:

  • Friday, March 6

  • Friday, March 13

Waiting an extra week allows Samsung to build inventory and avoid shortages. While March 13 falls on Friday the 13th, this likely won’t stop Samsung.

Confirmed European Release Date

A French website called Dealabs, known for reliable smartphone leaks, has shared new details.

According to Dealabs, all Galaxy S26 models will be available in European stores starting Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

Samsung usually launches phones globally on the same day. This means:

  • Europe, UK, North America, and South Korea should all see the same March 11 release date.

This is exactly two weeks after the Galaxy Unpacked event.

Why the March 11 Date Matters

Launching on March 11 gives Samsung:

  • 14 days of pre-orders

  • 20 days of sales within the financial quarter

It also places the Galaxy S26 lineup in stores less than one week after Mobile World Congress ends. This timing allows Samsung to benefit from strong media coverage and consumer interest.

Samsung hopes that the excitement from Galaxy Unpacked and heavy marketing will overshadow announcements from competitors at MWC.

Final Thoughts

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is shaping up to be one of the most important smartphone launches of 2026. With a delayed launch, stable pricing, and strong marketing plans, Samsung is clearly aiming to maintain its leadership in the premium Android market.

As Galaxy Unpacked approaches, more official details will emerge. Until then, the February 25 announcement and March 11 release dates appear increasingly likely.

Published: 13th January 2026

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