Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leaks: New colors, camera redesign and S Pen changes — but soaring memory prices could decide the price

Fresh leaks claim the Galaxy S26 Ultra is getting new “Shadow” colors, a premium camera-ring redesign, and an updated S Pen. But with memory costs surging, Samsung’s 2026 pricing strategy is suddenly the biggest question.

Samsung’s next flagship is already shaping up as one of 2026’s most talked-about phones — not because of one single blockbuster leak, but because several reports published or circulating today (January 5, 2026) are starting to line up.

On the consumer side, tipsters are pointing to a more refined Galaxy S26 Ultra design: new color names, a camera look that’s meant to feel less “cheap,” and an S Pen redesign prompted by the phone’s curvier corners. ^[1]

On the business side, Samsung is facing a very real constraint that could shape the phone more than any camera tweak: memory prices. A Korea Times report says DRAM and NAND pricing pressures are pushing Samsung to weigh whether it can keep Galaxy S26 pricing competitive or if it will have to raise prices. ^[2]

And in a Reuters interview published today, Samsung co-CEO TM Roh said the company plans to double the number of Galaxy AI–enabled mobile devices to 800 million in 2026 — while also warning the company is “not immune” to an “unprecedented” memory chip shortage that could make price increases “inevitable.” ^[3]

Below is a full, publication-ready roundup of what’s being reported today — and what still looks like rumor noise ahead of Samsung’s expected Galaxy Unpacked event.

What’s new in today’s Galaxy S26 Ultra leak cycle

1) Four “Shadow” and “Blue” colors are tipped — and “titanium” may be going away

One of the most repeated claims today is that Samsung is preparing four Galaxy S26 Ultra color names:

Black Shadow
White Shadow
Galactial Blue
Ultravioiet (spelled this way in the leak)

The interesting detail isn’t just the names — it’s what they don’t include. The leak notes there’s no “titanium” wording in these names, which could hint at a materials change (or at least a branding change) compared with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. ^[4]

A separate PhoneArena report goes further, saying the Galaxy S26 Ultra may “abandon titanium,” while acknowledging it’s not clear what material replaces it (with aluminum floated as a possibility). ^[5]

Why it matters: if Samsung is trying to protect pricing while component costs rise, materials and finishing choices are one of the few levers it can pull without changing the entire platform.

2) The camera look is changing — and it’s being framed as “more premium”

Multiple outlets are echoing the same basic idea: Samsung is moving away from the thick, black, ridged camera rings that appeared on the Galaxy S25 Ultra — sometimes described as “vinyl record” rings — toward thinner, more metallic rings that look cleaner. ^[6]

The leak narrative also repeatedly compares the new look to Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max camera ring styling (while claiming Samsung’s rings are narrower). ^[7]

At the same time, dummy-unit leaks suggest Samsung may be shifting more of the rear cameras into a raised camera island, rather than keeping lenses “floating” individually. TechRadar describes a move to a single island, and Gadgets360 says three cameras sit in a raised island while a fourth lens sits separately. ^[8]

9to5Google also flags that this new module may protrude more — potentially becoming an annoyance for table use — and speculates that a thinner chassis could be one reason the camera bump stands out more. ^[9]

3) An “asymmetrical arc” S Pen design is tipped

If the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s corners get rounder, something has to give inside the chassis — and the S Pen may be the first victim (or beneficiary, depending on your taste).

A leak referenced today claims Samsung is adopting an asymmetrical arc-shaped S Pen, designed to better match the phone’s updated curvature. ^[10]

There’s also renewed speculation that Samsung could restore S Pen features that some users felt were missed on the previous generation — notably remote camera control and gesture support — though that part remains “wait and see.” ^[11]

10 rumored Galaxy S26 Ultra upgrades (and what they would mean in real life)

A separate leak thread (via tipster @TheGalox_) lays out “10 upgrades” for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and PhoneArena breaks down several of the claims in detail. ^[12]

Here’s what those upgrades are and why they matter if they’re true:

Display: M14 OLED efficiency + a privacy screen

“New display with higher efficiency”: the report claims the S26 Ultra could use M14 OLED, reportedly 20%–30% more efficient than the M13 OLED used in the Galaxy S25 Ultra. ^[13]
“Integrated privacy screen”: described as restricting viewing angles to make shoulder-surfing harder. ^[14]

Why it matters: efficiency gains usually translate to better battery life (or more headroom for sustained brightness), and a built-in privacy mode could be a standout “daily life” feature if it doesn’t hurt image quality.

Cameras: bigger apertures, improved coatings, and new video controls

Bigger apertures are rumored — with examples given as f/1.4 for the main camera (vs. f/1.7) and f/2.9 for the 5x telephoto (vs. f/3.4), which would generally help low-light performance by letting in more light. ^[15]
Improved lens coatings are also claimed, aimed at reducing flares and improving color/skin tones. ^[16]
New Camera Assistant video controls: the report describes options tied to autofocus transition speed (fast “snap” focus vs. slow “rack focus”) and sharper control for video behavior. ^[17]

Why it matters: Samsung’s Ultra phones already shoot strong photos; where users often ask for progress is consistency (especially in challenging lighting) and more “pro” control over video.

Selfie camera: wider lens

The leak claims a wider 22mm selfie lens, which would fit more people into frame. ^[18]

Charging: finally past 45W?

One of the most consumer-friendly rumored changes is 60W Super-Fast Charging 3.0, with a claim of 0–50% in under 15 minutes. ^[19]

Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (with a “For Galaxy” twist?)

PhoneArena reports the Galaxy S26 Ultra is “supposedly” powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, said to be built by TSMC on 3nm, while also floating the idea that a special “For Galaxy” variant could be produced by Samsung Foundry on 2nm GAA. ^[20]

Memory speed: LPDDR5X at 10.7Gbps, plus a claimed shutter-lag fix

One of the more technical claims is that Samsung might use LPDDR5X RAM up to 10.7Gbps, and that this could help reduce (or “eliminate,” per the report) shutter lag by enabling AI to process multi-frame HDR up to 25% faster. ^[21]

Battery and thickness: a bigger battery and a thinner body?

The report notes the Ultra line has been stuck at 5,000mAh for multiple generations, and suggests the Galaxy S26 Ultra could move to 5100–5400mAh, while also becoming thinner at 7.9mm (vs. 8.2mm on the S25 Ultra, per the report). ^[22]

Galaxy S26 launch date: February 25 in San Francisco is the date to watch

Several reports now converge on a specific window:

A TechRadar report citing South Korean press and a tipster says Samsung could unveil the Galaxy S26 series on Wednesday, February 25, at an event in San Francisco, with sales in early March. ^[23]
The Korea Times also states the Galaxy S26 is scheduled to be unveiled at a Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco on Feb. 25. ^[24]
PhoneArena’s upgrade roundup also repeats the “around February 25th in San Francisco” timing. ^[25]

Nothing is official yet — but the consistency across independent reports is notable.

The real story: Will Galaxy S26 Ultra prices rise in 2026?

This is where today’s news gets messy — and more important.

Report A: “Prices could stay unchanged”

TechRadar reports a claim (via Maeil Business and industry sources) that Samsung may keep Galaxy S26 pricing unchanged, listing the same starting points as last year: $799 (S26), $999 (S26 Plus), and $1,299 (S26 Ultra), with equivalent UK/Australia pricing cited as well. ^[26]

Tom’s Guide also highlights this “silver lining” rumor, repeating the same U.S. price points. ^[27]

Report B: “Samsung is leaning toward a price hike”

A Korea Times report published today paints a very different picture: it says industry officials believe Samsung is leaning toward a price increase, arguing that memory costs have “nearly doubled from early 2025.” ^[28]

The same report adds:

Omdia data suggesting 96GB LPDDR5 pricing is up about 70% from early 2025 and NAND flash for smartphone storage is up 100%. ^[29]
TrendForce expecting smartphone bill-of-materials costs to rise 5%–7%, and Counterpoint expecting memory pricing could rise another 40% through Q2, pushing BoM costs up 8%–15% and average smartphone selling prices up 6.9%. ^[30]
DRAMeXchange data showing PC DRAM fixed prices rising 38%–43% in Q4 2025 vs the prior quarter, with laptop makers already signaling price hikes — a possible preview of how phones could follow. ^[31]

Samsung’s own signals: “not immune” to memory shortages, and prices could go up

In Reuters’ interview published today, Samsung co-CEO TM Roh says the company is not immune to the memory shortage and “did not rule out raising product prices,” calling the impact from surging memory prices “inevitable.” ^[32]

The Korea Times adds that Samsung previously kept Galaxy S25 pricing flat even though it used the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, described as about 20% more expensive than its predecessor — a strategy aimed at market share — but says memory prices have surged sharper than expected heading into S26 planning. ^[33]

Bottom line: today’s reporting suggests the Galaxy S26 Ultra could either land as a rare “price freeze” flagship or become one of the first mainstream phones where the 2026 memory market visibly hits the sticker price.

Galaxy AI is expanding fast — and the Galaxy S26 Ultra is likely the showcase

In the same Reuters report, Samsung says it rolled out Gemini-backed AI features to about 400 million mobile products by last year, and plans to reach 800 million in 2026. ^[34]

Roh also says Samsung plans to apply AI across “all products, all functions, and all services,” reinforcing that the company sees AI not as a feature, but as a platform shift across phones, TVs, and appliances. ^[35]

This matters for the Galaxy S26 Ultra because many of the rumored hardware moves — faster RAM, bigger batteries, more efficient screens, improved camera pipelines — are exactly the kinds of upgrades that help on-device AI feel instant rather than gimmicky.

What to watch next before Unpacked

If you’re tracking the Galaxy S26 Ultra leaks, these are the “next confirmations” that will likely settle the biggest debates:

Materials and weight: Are the “no titanium” hints a branding tweak or a real frame change? ^[36]
Final camera layout: Raised island + thin metal rings, or something closer to the “floating lens” look? ^[37]
Charging upgrade reality: 60W would be a meaningful generational jump if it ships globally. ^[38]
Pricing strategy by region: Reports already conflict — and memory supply negotiations (including talks with Micron mentioned in Korea Times) could influence outcomes. ^[39]
S Pen feature set: Hardware redesign is one thing; feature restores (remote control/gestures) would be the kind of change Ultra fans actually feel daily. ^[40]

The takeaway for January 5, 2026

As of today, the Galaxy S26 Ultra story has two main threads:

A design-and-experience refresh (colors, camera look, S Pen shape, display efficiency, charging and camera pipeline tweaks). ^[41]
A pricing tension driven by memory costs and a broader AI-driven hardware push, with credible signals that prices could rise — even as separate reports suggest Samsung wants to keep prices flat to stay competitive. ^[42]

If Samsung can deliver meaningful quality-of-life upgrades (battery, charging, camera consistency) while holding price, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could look like one of the most balanced “Ultra” refreshes in years. If prices rise sharply, Samsung will likely lean even harder on Galaxy AI and camera/video improvements to justify it — and the competition will pounce on value.

Either way, February 25 is increasingly looking like the date that turns these leaks into reality. ^[43]

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra - Official First Look

Watch this video on YouTube.

References