The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra may have made its first real-life appearance in new leaked photos

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series should be the first big phone release of 2026, and a new social media post might have given us our best look at the powerhouse of the series - the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

The post in question came from X user SaudiAndroid, and includes two images of what appears to be the S26 Ultra, showcasing the back of the phone in a silver/white color that could be the new White Shadow option we've heard rumored before. However, there are indications that this could be a dummy unit instead of an actual phone. For reference, dummy units are created by accessory manufacturers to facilitate testing of their products, and may differ slightly from the version we actually see on sale.

While we have seen leaked mockups of the phone in the past, this is the clearest one we’ve seen thus far, and it could reveal a lot about what the final product will look like. For one thing, the device in the images features the same pill-shaped camera island that we’ve seen in other leaks. On the island sit three of the four camera sensors, with the fourth sitting to the side above the flashlight, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s cameras sit directly on the back glass.

One interesting factor here is that the camera sensors look noticeably larger than those seen on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. However, this could be a result of the phone being thinner than its predecessor, with rumors indicating it could be between 7-8mm thick. The phone in the images also doesn’t feature the more rounded corners that were apparently going to be included; however, if it is a dummy unit, the final device could look slightly different in this regard.

What else do we know about the Galaxy S26 Ultra?

Unfortunately, the images don’t show the phone's screen (another potential sign it’s a dummy unit), so we can’t compare that to the rumors.

But on the topic of the screen, it appears to be agreed between leakers that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will feature the same 6.9-inch display seen on the prior model. However, there are indications that Samsung will utilize new materials to create a brighter screen and color reproduction, alongside a new privacy feature.

We also have some idea of how the phone will perform. Leaked Geekbench scores seem to show that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy will push its performance even higher. There have also been indications that the phone could feature improved wired charging performance.

While we might have numerous leaks and rumors to work with, nothing is set in stone, at least until we see the phone in person. We’re expecting Samsung to unveil the phone at the next Galaxy Unpacked, which appears to be happening on February 25, meaning we should see the phones on the shelves in early March.

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