SEOUL, January 26, 2026, 21:05 (KST)
- A report citing leaker Ice Universe points to a Feb. 25 Galaxy Unpacked event and March 11 sales for Samsung’s Galaxy S26 in South Korea.
- The leaked schedule would put Samsung’s flagship launch later than recent years, with rivals lining up phones for the spring window.
- Separate reports also flagged rumored S26 upgrades, including changes aimed at luring iPhone users.
A reported timetable for Samsung Electronics’ next flagship phones points to a Feb. 25 unveiling and a March 11 market debut in South Korea, according to a report that cited leaker Ice Universe, who wrote that the “market launch date” would be March 11. Tomsguide
Why it matters now: Samsung has leaned on a first-quarter launch for the Galaxy S line to set the pace for its mobile business early in the year, before Apple’s new iPhones arrive later on.
This time, the dates in circulation also land in a tighter competitive stretch, as Android makers jostle for attention with mid-year and spring releases and discounting has become a bigger part of selling $1,000 phones.
Forbes columnist Ewan Spence wrote that the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s timing would matter because Samsung could face pressure from rivals’ launches, pointing to Google’s Pixel 10a and Apple’s iPhone 17e in the same conversation. Forbes
TheStreet said pricing chatter suggests Samsung could try to keep U.S. sticker prices in line with last year’s models — with leaks putting the base S26 at $799, the S26+ at $999 and the S26 Ultra at $1,299 — even as executives have warned that higher component costs, including memory, could force changes in some regions. Thestreet
The reported schedule sets out an Unpacked event on Feb. 25, followed by an initial buying window from Feb. 26 to March 4 and another window running March 5-10, ahead of a March 11 on-sale date in South Korea. The labels used for those periods have varied across reports, and one tech site said the distinction was not explained.
Samsung has not announced details for its next Unpacked event. In past years it has used the show to launch the Galaxy S lineup, then opened pre-orders before broader retail availability.
Mashable, in a separate roundup of rumors, pointed to potential S26 features framed as reasons iPhone users might consider switching, including an AI-driven “Privacy Display,” a next-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and deeper ties to Google’s Gemini, alongside talk of expanded scam-detection tools and Qi2 wireless charging. (Qi2 is a newer wireless charging standard that supports magnetic alignment, similar to Apple’s MagSafe.) Mashable
The competitive backdrop is messy. Apple remains the biggest profit pool at the high end, while Chinese brands including Xiaomi and Honor have pushed harder in Europe and parts of Asia, often leaning on aggressive hardware specs and price.
A later Galaxy S launch also risks narrowing Samsung’s runway to sell at full price before promotions widen, a pattern that has become more pronounced as buyers hold onto phones longer.
But there are risks to reading too much into leaked calendars. Launch dates can move, regional rollouts can slip, and Samsung’s final pricing can shift with component costs, carrier offers and currency swings — especially if memory prices stay firm and squeeze margins.
For now, the leak-heavy reporting has at least put one date back in play: Feb. 25, when the next Unpacked event is expected by the outlets tracking Samsung’s plans, and March 11, when they say the phones could reach stores.
