Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026: What's new in the Galaxy S26 and the era of adaptive AI?
Samsung has confirmed that it will hold the Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25, 2026, in San Francisco, promising the launch of the Galaxy S26 series, Buds 4, and breakthroughs in personalized artificial intelligence.
Samsung has officially confirmed that its first Galaxy Unpacked event of 2026 will take place on February 25th in San Francisco. Following a busy 2025 with foldable phones and the XR platform, the South Korean tech giant is preparing to enter a new cycle with a focus on the Galaxy S26 series. According to the official invitation, the event will begin at 10 AM Pacific Time and will be live-streamed globally.
Galaxy S26 series: Performance upgrade with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip.
While retaining the familiar design language of flat screens and rounded bezels, the Galaxy S26 series focuses heavily on internal improvements. The biggest highlight is the appearance of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor from Qualcomm, specifically optimized for AI tasks on the device. In some markets, Samsung may use its own developed Exynos 2600 chip.
Below is a table of expected specifications for the two standard versions:
| Parameter | Galaxy S26 | Galaxy S26+ |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 6.3 inch FHD+ | 6.7 inch FHD+ |
| Microprocessors | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB |
| Battery capacity | 4,300mAh | 4,900mAh |
| Main camera | 50MP | 50MP |
Notably, the standard Galaxy S26 version has been upgraded to a larger 6.3-inch screen (compared to 6.2 inches of its predecessor) and a larger 4,300mAh battery, promising more impressive battery life.
Galaxy S26 Ultra: A new solution for the Qi2 wireless charging standard.
The top-of-the-line version, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, is predicted to feature significant technical changes. One of the most notable rumors is that Samsung may remove the traditional S Pen digitizer in favor of a new stylus input method. This change aims to ensure full compatibility with the Qi2 magnetic charging standard without magnetic interference.
Additionally, there are reports that Samsung will revert to using an aluminum frame instead of titanium to optimize weight. The rear camera module of the Ultra version is said to protrude slightly with a more refined metallic finish.
Accessory ecosystem and special product lines
In addition to the traditional S series, Samsung is expected to refresh its headphone lineup with the Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro. The new models will feature a more compact charging case and integrate an Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip for precise location tracking via Google's Find Hub network. Furthermore, head gesture control (head-to-head/call rejection) is also a valuable addition.
Regarding foldable phones, the Galaxy Z TriFold – a unique triple-folding device – may also appear at the event after being showcased at CES 2026. With an expected price of around $2,900, this product will define the ultra-luxury segment for the company.
Additionally, the Galaxy S26 Edge, with its ultra-slim design of only 5.5mm, is also attracting attention. This device is expected to feature a unique rectangular camera module, bringing a fresh look to a product line that has become too familiar in terms of design.
The era of personalized AI and collaboration with Perplexity.
This year's event's message emphasizes making AI "truly personal and adaptive." Samsung is reportedly in talks to integrate its Perplexity search engine into OneUI, while also upgrading its Bixby assistant to compete with Google Gemini. New AI photography features such as restoring missing objects, converting daytime to nighttime lighting, and more detailed night photography will also be a focus of the upcoming presentation.
