According to a new report from Korean publication ChosunBiz, Samsung is targeting a February 2026 launch for the Galaxy S26 series, with the company holding its next Unpacked event as early as late January. This lines up with Samsung’s usual release pattern, but it also closes the door on earlier rumors that suggested a March launch.

For comparison, the Galaxy S25 series was revealed on January 23 and launched on February 7. If Samsung follows a similar pattern with the S26, the release could fall in a similar early-February window. The planned addition of a slime-line Edge model to the mainline launch reportedly won’t go ahead.

Samsung Galaxy S26 series coming in February?

Based on the report, translated by analyst Jukanlosreve on X, Samsung originally planned to introduce a new ‘Edge’ model for the S26 series. But after weak sales of the S25 Edge, which launched later than the main series last year, Samsung decided to bring back the Plus model instead. That switch is said to have caused extra hardware testing and slowed down the schedule.

The report states that Samsung has solved these delays and can now stick to a February launch. The sales comparison also explains why the Edge model was dropped. The S25 Edge only sold 1.31 million units in three months, while the S25 Plus sold 5.05 million in the same period. With numbers like that, it makes sense that Samsung returned to what buyers actually want.

Another major detail from the report is about the new phones’ processors. There were rumors that Samsung would use the new Exynos 2600 chip across the entire Galaxy S26 lineup, but that is not happening. Instead, the base S26 and the S26 Plus will reportedly use Exynos, while the S26 Ultra will ship with a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip. The report also says a price increase for the Ultra model is expected due to the additional cost of Qualcomm chips, especially in the wake of recent tariffs.

There is also an interesting note from a semiconductor expert who says Samsung’s improved chip design and better 2nm GAA yields are likely why the company is expanding Exynos usage again. But he also states that the Ultra model will probably not move to Exynos until 2027, which would be the Galaxy S27.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.