This year’s Unpacked carries a clear message. Samsung says its next Galaxy S series will be designed to make AI feel more personal, adaptive and seamlessly integrated into daily life. The focus is no longer just on adding AI features, but on building a smartphone experience that reduces friction in everything from productivity to photography and privacy.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is widely expected to headline the event.
Last year, we reviewed the Galaxy S25 Ultra and found it to be one of Samsung’s most polished Ultra devices yet. It delivered excellent performance, dependable cameras and a strong AI layer, but it was largely an iterative upgrade. With the S26 Ultra, Samsung appears ready to introduce more noticeable refinements.
Leaks suggest the company may introduce a new privacy-focused display layer built directly into the OLED panel, possibly allowing users to enable screen privacy on demand or even per app. A native 10-bit OLED panel is also rumored, alongside Samsung’s newer, more power-efficient display tech.
Camera upgrades are expected to focus on low-light improvements, with a wider aperture on the main sensor and refinements to the 5x telephoto lens. Faster 60W wired charging could finally replace the long-standing 45W limit, and a slightly larger battery may also be in the works.
Under the hood, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is tipped to run Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, paired with faster memory to enhance AI-powered features and overall responsiveness.
With the official date now confirmed, all eyes are on February 25 to see how far Samsung pushes its AI-first Ultra vision this year.
Galaxy S26 Ultra: Expected Specs at a Glance
- 6.8 to 6.9-inch 10-bit OLED display with improved power efficiency
- Built-in software-controlled privacy display layer
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor
- Upgraded low-light camera system with wider apertures
- 60W wired charging and faster wireless charging
- 5,100mAh to 5,400mAh battery
- Slimmer design with minor ergonomic refinements
- More details will be confirmed at Galaxy Unpacked on February 25.
