Leaked Galaxy S26 Series Dummies
Image Credit: Sonny Dickson
The Samsung Galaxy S26 series is set to be unveiled in San Francisco on February 25, according to South Korean outlet Money Today. This announcement date is later than the Galaxy S25 reveal but earlier than many recent reports had predicted.
For context, the Galaxy S25 was announced on January 22, 2025, while the Galaxy S24 was revealed on January 17, 2024. Samsung is preparing for its Galaxy S26 Unpacked event, and the choice of San Francisco as the venue is significant.
Why San Francisco?
An official familiar with Samsung’s plans revealed that the event will return to San Francisco because it is considered the center of AI innovation. This makes it an ideal location for launching the Galaxy S26, which will feature “next-gen AI,” according to Danie Araujo, Vice President of Samsung’s Mobile Experience Division.
Model Lineup Changes and Production Challenges
Reports had suggested that Samsung was planning to replace the standard Galaxy S26 model with a Pro variant, and the Galaxy S26 Plus could be succeeded by a model replacing the Galaxy S25 Edge. However, due to weak market interest in slim phones, Samsung abruptly decided to stick with the traditional lineup of Standard, Plus, and Ultra models.
This last-minute decision disrupted the launch plans and contributed to the delay of the Galaxy S26 series release.
Chipset Details
The upcoming Galaxy S26 series is expected to mark the return of Samsung’s in-house smartphone chipset. All variants will reportedly be powered by the Exynos 2600, except for the models destined for North America, China, and Japan, which will feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor.
While the Exynos 2600 may not match the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in speed, it could outperform the iPhone 17 Pro’s chipset. However, Samsung appears to be facing manufacturing challenges with the Exynos 2600, with reports indicating that the majority of chips produced are unusable.
Launch Timeline and Production Schedule
Previously, Samsung was expected to announce the Galaxy S26 series in March. The newly rumored February 25 date brings hope to fans eagerly counting down to the launch.
Despite the possible late-February unveiling, the exact sale date remains unclear. The Galaxy S25 series launched on February 3, 2025, so a similar schedule might point to a release around March 9.
Samsung is reportedly set to begin mass production of the Galaxy S26 Ultra in December, with the Standard and Plus models following in January. Whether this production timeline will result in a staggered release has yet to be confirmed.
Community Reactions
When asked about the Galaxy S26 delay, responses from fans indicate mixed feelings:
- “Nope, don’t want Samsung to rush it.” – 0%
- “Yes, I need to upgrade ASAP.” – 0%
- “I’ll be disappointed if specs are underwhelming.” – 100%
Better Late Than Half-Baked
Although some anticipation may be dampened by the delay, Samsung’s decision to avoid rushing production could lead to benefits for buyers. The extra time appears to be used to equip the phones with improved cameras and larger batteries.
Given the uncertainty surrounding the launch, the Galaxy S26 will face intense scrutiny. To truly satisfy consumers after the delay, Samsung would do well to offer more generous specifications than initially planned.
Stay tuned for more updates and follow us on Google News for the latest information on the Galaxy S26 series.
https://www.phonearena.com/news/galaxy-s26-unpacked-san-francisco_id175395
