What To Expect From Samsung Unpacked 2026: 5 Biggest Rumors On Galaxy S26 Ultra, Buds 4 Pro, More

4 days ago

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The adjacent Samsung Unpacked arena should present caller mobile gadgets to nan market.
Samsung is group to denote caller Galaxy S26 models, including nan Ultra.
Expect talk of UI updates, redesigned earbuds, and perchance AI glasses.

Unlike nan past 2 years, Samsung isn't hosting an Unpacked arena successful January of 2026. Instead, nan rumored Galaxy S26 Ultra is tipped to beryllium announced a period later, conscionable earlier Mobile World Congress (MWC). Ahead of nan motorboat event, reports constituent to nan merchandise of respective awesome products, including immoderate instrumentality favorites, and perchance surprises.

Also: These Samsung Galaxy S26 rumors propose large changes that we didn't spot coming

From nan expected new Galaxy S-series phones to a mates of unexpected treats, here's what you tin expect from nan Samsung Unpacked arena successful February.

When is nan Samsung Unpacked 2026 event?

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

Samsung has yet to denote an charismatic day for its upcoming event. However, South Korean media organizations person suggested nan institution will big its early Unpacked arena connected Feb. 25, 2026, successful San Francisco.

Reliable tipster Evan Blass has corroborated this motorboat timeline. This schedule would adhd different week to nan merchandise timeline and push nan in-store day to March. So, expect to get your hands connected nan caller Galaxy S26 bid successful early March.

Also: 5 preinstalled Samsung apps you should region ASAP - they're fundamentally bloatware

If you want to watch nan Unpacked 2026 arena online, you tin spell to nan Samsung website or YouTube to tune successful to nan unrecorded stream. You'll apt find a "notify me" fastener person to nan launch, truthful you tin person a heads-up earlier nan unrecorded watercourse begins. Here are 5 things we expect from nan adjacent Samsung Unpacked event.

What to expect from Samsung Unpacked 2026

1. Don't slumber connected nan Samsung Galaxy S26

To nary surprise, nan rumor mill has been spinning and spinning up of nan Galaxy S26 launch. There were reports that Samsung would switch its guidelines exemplary pinch a "Galaxy S26 Pro" successful its early-2026 flagship lineup. However, these rumors person since been debunked, and we now cognize that nan S26 Pro is conscionable nan guidelines exemplary Galaxy S26.

Also: If these Samsung Galaxy S26 rumors are true, I mightiness yet put my Google Pixel loyalty to rest

As usual, we could get a Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus beneath nan Ultra variant. The duo could get a camera upgrade successful nan ultrawide-angle sensor, pinch an expected upgrade from 12MP to 50MP, according to a study from Android Headlines.

The lower-end exemplary mightiness person a somewhat larger 6.3-inch surface and a 4,300mAh artillery (300mAh much than nan Galaxy S25's 4,000mAh cell). This instrumentality could beryllium paired pinch 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage.

2. Will an Edge exemplary switch nan Plus?

There person been rumors that Samsung could discontinue nan "Plus" moniker and displacement to a caller slim phone, nan Galaxy S26 Edge. According to reliable tipster Ice Universe, nan super-slim Samsung telephone could person a 4,200mAh artillery and measurement conscionable 5.5mm thick, which is 0.3mm thinner than nan S25 Edge and 0.1mm skinnier than nan iPhone Air.

Also: These Samsung Galaxy S26 rumors propose large changes that we didn't spot coming

The Galaxy S26 Edge mightiness characteristic nan aforesaid 6.7-inch surface arsenic before. While location person been contradicting rumors astir Samsung continuing pinch nan Edge successful early lineups, I loved utilizing nan Galaxy S25 Edge -- particularly because it had less hardware limitations than Apple's iPhone Air.

3. How overmuch much 'Ultra' tin Samsung get?

Samsung's Ultra telephone needs a awesome ergonomic overhaul, and leaked renders of nan Galaxy S26 Ultra hint astatine flimsy creation changes. I couldn't usage nan Galaxy S25 Ultra arsenic my regular driver past year, contempt its comparatively lightweight creation (218 grams), because of its crisp sides.

According to leaked renders, Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra could characteristic curvier corners than its predecessor and a raised vertical camera bump connected nan back. The instrumentality is said to beryllium 0.3mm slimmer, astatine 7.9mm thick, and to characteristic a caller M14 OLED display.

The institution precocious released teaser videos of a caller privateness feature, which could protect your on-screen accusation from nosy strangers. I'm speculating this tech will beryllium nan biggest talking constituent aft launch.

Also: I tried Samsung's $2,900 tri-foldable telephone up of its US debut - it won maine complete successful minutes

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could athletics a larger 1/1.1-inch 200MP Sony sensor pinch an f/1.4 aperture for nan main camera. The instrumentality is said to fto successful 47% much light, for amended images successful low-light situations. I dream nan telephone gets a telephoto camera upgrade too, but we'll person to hold and watch.

All 3 Samsung Galaxy S26 phones are tipped to beryllium powered by different processors successful different regions. In nan US and China, you mightiness get Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5-powered devices, while nan remainder of nan world could spot Exynos 2600 variants.

Historically, Samsung's in-house Exynos chipsets person been notorious for mediocre power management, but nan caller processor could alteration that issue. According to Korea Economic Daily, nan Exynos 2600 could see an NPU that's speculated to beryllium 30% faster than Qualcomm's flagship chipset.

4. New One UI 8.5 features

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge always-on display.

Samsung released its One UI 8 alongside nan Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 past year, and it is expected to denote One UI 8.5 astatine nan upcoming launch. For context, 8.5 has been available successful beta since December, truthful we cognize what to expect.

The unchangeable type of One UI 8.5 could bring an expanded acheronian theme, upgraded Home Up support, lockscreen widget support, and much AI features, including Samsung's return connected Apple's Notification Summary feature. In nan beta version, One UI 8.5 besides allows you to resize folders and improves inter-device connectivity.

5. Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

According to a September study from SamMobile and an X post, Samsung is processing a brace of Galaxy Buds 4 devices. The codename successful strings was spotted successful a One UI 8.5 leak.

Leaked renders from Android Authority suggested nan Galaxy Buds 4 and 4 Pro could beryllium a redesign. They look to person a level stem and a caller ligament grille creation constituent connected nan side. We don't cognize astir caller features and audio improvements yet, but we could get caller flagship earbuds alongside nan Galaxy S26 lineup successful February.

Also: Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: I tried some models, and this brace wins

Samsung could besides showcase its smart AI glasses astatine nan Galaxy Unpacked event. While chances of a motorboat are lower, we could get a teaser of Samsung's rival to Meta Ray-Bans at nan event. The institution is partnering pinch Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to create its caller wearable device.