Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leaks ahead of launch: Expected specs, design and price

According to a new report from Korean outlet iNews24, Samsung is still thinking on how to price the Galaxy S26 series ahead of its arrival next month. According to a Samsung insider, the company is “doing their best” to keep the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s price under 2 million won, which is about $1,357. For perspective, the Galaxy S25 Ultra was priced at $1,299.

According to iNews24, Samsung intends to maintain the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s starting price of $1,300, even if it means bearing the burden of exchange rates. This follows an earlier ET News story saying that Samsung could raise the Galaxy S26 series’ price by 44,000 won ($31) to 88,000 won ($62) per model.

In the United States, the Galaxy S26 series might end up costing around $859, $1,059, and $1,359 for the base, Plus, and Ultra models, respectively—figures that correspond to a direct conversion of the 2-million-won ceiling.

The rapid rise in memory prices, which affects all smartphone manufacturers, has forced Samsung to think outside the box in order to prevent a retail price increase. According to iNews24, the company is considering changing its popular “double storage” pre-order deal. This campaign is especially costly given the current global chip shortage.

Samsung is also apparently thinking about lowering its marketing costs or “adjusting compensation sales subsidies.” This signals that the corporation may reduce the aggressive discount techniques and high trade-in prices that it generally employs for its flagship technology.

Samsung Colombia has unwittingly verified the existence of the three Galaxy S26 versions that will be unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked next month. In a promotional document—a PDF initially discovered by SamMobile—the company details a 0% APR deal for various Galaxy phones purchased with a local credit card.

The Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra are explicitly specified as devices that are eligible for the promotion. This is the first time Samsung has officially announced the specific models and names set to be released in February.

Initially, rumours suggested that Samsung will rename the base unit the Galaxy S26 “Pro,” with the Galaxy S26 Edge replacing the Plus model. However, the Edge’s poor sales and response among purchasers apparently led the Korean company to ditch its goals and return to the “Plus” branding.

Galaxy S26 Plus Specifications: What To Expect

Unless Samsung has something unique planned, don’t expect significant differences between the S25 Plus and its successor. The Galaxy S26 Plus will have a 6.66-inch screen, which is significantly smaller than the 6.7-inch display on the Galaxy S25 Plus, according to The Elec. Samsung apparently considered adopting the same OLED panel produced for the scrapped Galaxy S26 Edge, but instead chose a display comparable to the previous generation.

Samsung’s Updated Galaxy S26 Release Date

Several rumours point to the Samsung Galaxy S26 series arriving on February 25th, 2026. According to Dealabs, the Galaxy Unpacked event will begin at 7 p.m. Central European Time (10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET). The site also states that the devices will be available for purchase on March 11th in Europe, which is likely to apply globally.

March 11th comes inside the 14-to-16-day gap between announcement and on-sale date that Samsung has traditionally used in past launches. What is different this time is the day of the week; Samsung often releases its phones on Fridays, but March 11th is a Wednesday. Given that Samsung delayed its 2026 flagship launch to replace the Galaxy S26 Edge, it is not surprising that the company is departing from its typical timetable.

Potential Galaxy S26 Price Increase

Wonjin Lee, Samsung’s worldwide marketing president, echoed similar warning in an interview with Bloomberg on the possible Galaxy S26 price. “When memory prices rise, it will affect product prices. “I don’t believe we are immune to those issues,” Lee remarked. “Prices are rising… We don’t want to pass on that burden to customers, but we’ll eventually have to consider repricing our products.”