Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026 live: Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy S26, Galaxy Buds 4 and more
We're hoping for a couple of special surprises
The countdown has begun. Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event is happening on Wednesday, February 25, in San Francisco, where we’ll probably get our first glimpse at the company’s Galaxy S26 lineup. We’re here to make sure you get all the juicy details about them in our live blog, along with any other special surprises.
This year’s event is happening nearly a month later than in previous years, but it’ll no doubt set the tone for all other major phone releases this year. All eyes are on the flagship model, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which rumors indicate will have some notable hardware upgrades — like a new Privacy Display that’s unlike anything seen before.
Regardless of what happens, we’ll report all the latest news with our Galaxy Unpacked 2026 live blog.
When is Galaxy Unpacked?
It’s slated to kick off at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. GMT on February 25. That’s significantly later than the January 22 date of last year’s event.
After that date came and went without an announcement, Samsung shared the official date on February 10, 2026 — fitting the roughly two-week lead time the company typically leans on for its major reveals.
How to watch Galaxy Unpacked 2026
In addition to our live blog, you can tune into the official livestream to watch the event as it unfolds. Along with Samsung’s YouTube channel, the show will be available to stream on Samsung.com and the Samsung Newsroom.
Galaxy Unpacked 2026: What to expect
Samsung has consistently used its first Galaxy Unpacked event of the year to introduce its latest flagship phones, but we also expect to hear about the software they’ll be running, new AI features, and perhaps other devices.
At last year’s event, Samsung used the opportunity to tease two devices: the Galaxy S25 Edge and the Project Moohan headset (which subsequently became the Galaxy XR). Whether Samsung will have similar teasers this time around remains to be seen, but you never know what might be saved for the end.
Here’s everything we expect to learn more about at Galaxy Unpacked 2026:
- Galaxy S26: Samsung’s entry-level flagship is tipped to feature a larger and brighter 6.3-inch display.
- Galaxy S26 Plus: The "middle child" of the group should be similar to the standard S26, though it will likely pack a larger 6.7-inch AMOLED screen and a 4,900 mAh battery.
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Anticipation is high for this flagship model, especially with reports of a wider aperture for its main camera, a never-before-seen "Privacy Display," and potentially exclusive software features.
- Galaxy S26 Edge: While this one may be a long shot, Samsung could surprise us with a teaser of some kind.
- One UI 8.5: Samsung’s latest software is expected to be packed with changes, including expanded generative AI capabilities and refreshed system animations.
- Galaxy Buds 4 and 4 Pro: Samsung’s wireless earbuds are rumored for an announcement, with a significant redesign reportedly on tap for the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.
- Galaxy AI: Samsung has been teasing new AI-assisted tricks that bring big camera improvements, but we’re also hoping to see more robust productivity tools.
Samsung's new display tech could be a game-changer
A long-running rumor has claimed that Samsung will add a privacy display to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, allowing it to make the screen harder to read from the side at will. Leaked options for this mode (shown above) show there will be automated options too. If this works as the leaks say it will, then this could be one of the most exciting smartphone hardware updates we've seen in a number of years.
Brace yourself for high pricing
A Korean pricing rumor suggests that Samsung may be increasing the cost of the Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly. Not something we ever want to hear when talking about new phones.
This is likely due to the ongoing RAM and storage shortage, as well as increasing costs of other parts like Snapdragon chipsets. We can hope that Samsung doesn't bring this price increase to the U.S., U.K. or Australia though - something that we've seen in previous generations.
Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Galaxy Z TriFold: Which premium phone should you get?
Samsung has already made waves with the Galaxy Z TriFold, its triple-folding smartphone-tablet hybrid that costs a whopping $2,900. While that is undoubtedly a steep price to pay, the device offers unique perks you won’t find in any other phone on the market. Of course, it’s now squaring off against the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra. There are many rumors that make the new flagship a compelling choice — most notably the significant camera upgrades — so we’re breaking it all down in our Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Galaxy Z TriFold comparison.
Leaked renders reveal new color shades for S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra
Recently, renowned leaker Evan Blass shared high-resolution renders of the entire Galaxy S26 lineup in all of its new shades. What’s particularly interesting this year is that all models appear to be available in the exact same core colors: Black, White, Cobalt Violet, and Sky Blue. Furthermore, these renders seem to confirm that Samsung is ditching the titanium frame found on the S25 Ultra in favor of a refined Armor Aluminum frame, as the "Titanium" moniker is notably absent from the leaked color names.
The biggest upgrades to the Galaxy S26 Ultra could come down to AI
Teaser videos shared by Samsung hint at significant camera improvements coming to the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The most eye-catching clip purportedly shows a hybrid zoom enhancement that allows the camera to capture high-quality shots even at extreme distances.
We’ve seen a similar feature with Pro Res Zoom on the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 XL, but it will be interesting to see if Samsung’s version applies to video rather than just still photos.
To upgrade or not? That is the question
If you're holding onto the Galaxy S23 Ultra or S24 Ultra, you might be wondering if it’s time to upgrade to the Galaxy S26 Ultra. There’s obviously going to be bigger hardware upgrades with Samsung’s upcoming flagship model, so we break down the biggest differences between the last few generation models compared to the rumored S26 Ultra. If a wider f/1.4 aperture with the main camera isn’t enough, the S26 Ultra is reportedly going to get the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and more Galaxy AI features.
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