Samsung Galaxy S26 Is Official: Galaxy Unpacked Set for February 25
Okay, it’s official.
Samsung just sent out invites for Galaxy Unpacked, and the big show is happening February 25 in San Francisco. And yes — like always — you’ll be able to stream the whole thing on YouTube from wherever you are.
So what are we getting?
The Galaxy S26 lineup. And if Samsung’s teasing is anything to go by, this isn’t just another “here’s a faster chip and a brighter screen” kind of year.
This time, they’re pushing one thing hard:
AI.
Not “smartphone.”
Not “camera king.”
They’re literally calling it an “AI phone.”
That’s… interesting.
So What Phones Are We Expecting?
Nothing too dramatic in terms of lineup changes. We’re looking at:
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Galaxy S26
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Galaxy S26 Plus
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Galaxy S26 Ultra
There were rumors Samsung might ditch the Plus model and replace it with some slim “Edge” version. But apparently that idea didn’t exactly light the world on fire in 2025. So they’re sticking with what works.
Honestly? Probably the smart move.
Design Changes? Kind Of. But Not Really.
If you’re hoping for a radical redesign… this probably isn’t that year.
Leaks suggest the overall look stays pretty familiar. The only noticeable tweak is the rear camera setup — it sounds like the lenses will now sit on a slightly raised island instead of the more separate look from before.
In other words:
You’ll know it’s new… but it won’t feel shocking.
Samsung seems to be refining, not reinventing.
The Real Battle: Snapdragon vs Exynos
Now this is where things get spicy.
Most regions will likely get the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (for Galaxy) — which usually means slightly boosted performance compared to the standard version.
But some markets (especially Europe) are expected to get the new Exynos 2600.
And here’s the twist: the Exynos chip is reportedly built on a 2nm process.
That’s a big deal.
Smaller process = better efficiency = potentially better battery life and thermals.
So for once, the Exynos version might not be the “compromise” option. We’ll have to see how real-world performance plays out, but it’s definitely something to watch.
Charging & Hardware — Don’t Expect Fireworks
There was talk that Samsung might adopt magnetic Qi2.2 wireless charging — basically their answer to MagSafe.
But that’s looking unlikely.
Charging speeds might go up slightly… but not dramatically. Samsung has never been the “throw 120W at it” type of company.
And cameras?
From what we’re hearing, they’re sticking pretty close to what worked last year. That probably means improvements through software and AI rather than brand-new sensors.
Which brings us back to…
AI, AI, and More AI
If Samsung’s invite tells us anything, it’s that AI is the centerpiece.
They’ve been pushing Galaxy AI features for a couple of years now — live translation, AI photo editing, smart summaries, image generation, all that stuff.
But let’s be honest.
A lot of it has felt cool… but not essential.
Now Samsung says AI will become “truly personal and adaptive.”
That sounds ambitious.
Especially when Google already has Gemini baked into Android and its own apps. So Samsung has to prove that its AI isn’t just another layer on top — it has to actually feel smarter, more useful, more you.
If they pull that off?
That’s a bigger upgrade than a new camera lens.
What This Launch Feels Like
This doesn’t feel like a wild redesign year.
It feels like a polish-and-power year.
Samsung isn’t trying to shock anyone.
They’re trying to evolve the experience.
And honestly? That might be exactly what this stage of smartphones needs.
Mark the Date
📅 February 25
📍 San Francisco
📺 Streaming live on YouTube
If you’ve been thinking about upgrading — or just want to see where smartphones are headed next — this one’s worth watching.
Now the real question is:
Will the Galaxy S26 make AI finally feel indispensable… or just more complicated?
We’ll find out soon.
