Galaxy S26 launch date tipped by two biggest Samsung leakers — 'you can take it to the bank'
Early 2026 is Samsung’s time to shine
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While the Galaxy S26 series remains one of our most anticipated phones of 2026, there are still a lot of questions, including when the phone will actually come out.
Recently, we reported on the rumor that Samsung was planning to freeze the prices of the Galaxy S26, while also delaying the next Galaxy Unpacked until February 25, 2026. The launch event's timing has now been supported by well-known leaker Evan Blass, who stated that the rumored date was “100% correct.”
The date of 25 February is 100% correct. You can take it to the bank. https://t.co/YYe7P85NwvJanuary 6, 2026
Samsung has released its last few devices in either late January or early February, then releases the phone to the public around two weeks later. For instance, the Galaxy S25 was unveiled on January 22, 2025, and hit the store shelves on February 7. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S24 was announced on January 17, 2024, and released on February 17. So, if Samsung follows its current trend, then that means that people will be able to purchase the Galaxy S26 series in early March.
What are we likely to see at Galaxy Unpacked?
One of the other big questions about the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked is about what models we will actually see. We had heard rumors that Samsung was planning to drop the Galaxy Plus model and replace it with the Galaxy S26 Edge. There were also rumors that Samsung would change the name of the Galaxy S26 to the Galaxy S26 Pro.
However, recent leaks and rumors appear to indicate that this won’t be the case at all, and instead, Samsung will continue with its usual lineup. Meanwhile, Samsung is rumored to have paused, or cancelled, the release of the Galaxy S26 Edge for the time being due to the poor sales of the Galaxy S25 Edge. However, there are some indications that it could be released later in the year.
One thing we will see at Galaxy Unpacked will be which models of Galaxy S26 will ship with the new Exynos 2600 chip. Samsung’s new in-house production was unveiled back in December, which has been built using a 2nm process that should offer much more power and energy efficiency. So far, it appears that it will ship with the phone in certain markets, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
One surprise unveiling that could happen at Unpacked is the Galaxy Z TriFold. The phone launched in Korea back in December, with Samsung claiming it will launch in the U.S. at some point in Q1 of 2026. However, we likely won’t see the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 until summer, which is when Samsung usually holds its second event.
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There’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to Samsung, so let us know what you’re looking forward to in the new year.
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Josh is a staff writer for Tom's Guide and is based in the UK. He has worked for several publications but now works primarily on mobile phones. Outside of phones, he has a passion for video games, novels, and Warhammer.
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