When is the Samsung Galaxy S26 Coming Out?
Tech fans will know that January means one thing when it comes to phone releases – The Samsung launch event. Set to take place near the end of January 2026, this is where Samsung officials take centre stage to unveil their new phones.
We’re here to run you through what to expect, what the tech community are predicting for the S26 series, and how to get ready by selling your device.
How much will the Galaxy S26 cost?
The question on everyone’s mind is how much the S26 will cost. No official prices for the S26 line-up have been confirmed yet, but we can predict that it will be similar to or slightly higher than the current S25 series.
If Samsung follows the same models as their last release, this could mean:
The Galaxy S26 (base model) is likely to start around £799, the S26 Plus from £1,099 and the S26 Ultra from £1,249. Remember, Samsung also announced the S25 Edge in May 2025, so there’s nothing to say they won’t do the same thing in 2026. If this is the case, the S26 Edge may retail from around £1,099.
These prices will depend on which storage options you buy, so expect a higher price to be able to store more on your device.
There’s an easy way to add a discount to your S26 purchase using our ‘sell my Samsung’ service. By selling your current phone with a trusted provider, it’ll be easier than ever to get those crystal-clear smartphone images or have enough storage room for all the apps you want.
Image Credit: Samsung
What can I expect from the S26 launch?
On the whole, leaks, rumours, and industry experts suggest that the S26 will be a modest improvement on the S25, with partial influence from the iPhone 17.
Cast your mind back to September 2025, when Apple announced a bigger 6.3-inch display, A19 chip, 18MP front camera and better battery life. In August, Google’s Pixel 10 phone had a new Tensor G5 chip and a combination of on-device AI camera features.
Samsung is likely taking cues from all of this, adding just enough new tech (especially on the AI and battery fronts) to entice those looking to upgrade, while relying on its proven hardware from the S25.
What will the S26 display look like?
If Samsung follows the direction of Apple, one of the upgrades to come in January will be a bigger screen size. Rumours are saying the S26 is expected to jump from 6.2-inch (S25) to about 6.3-inch, the S26+ and the S26 Ultra staying at 6.7-inch and 6.9-inch respectively.
Samsung may switch to its new M14 OLED material in the new launch. This thin, efficient panel doesn’t have a brightness boost but brings a richer colour and lower power usage. Some rumours guess there may be an AI-driven privacy feature that narrows the viewing angle on demand, making it basically a built-in smart privacy filter.
What will the performance and AI features be like?
There’s likely to be a new, faster chip with the S26, possibly Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, giving huge gains in CPU/GPU speed. Whatever the new chip is, we expect the S26 to easily handle 5G, gaming, multitasking and more.
As with current phone trends, Samsung’s AI is expected to be baked into the S26. This could mean things like notification summaries and advanced image generation that won’t work on older phones.
If faster photo editing, instant translations, and smarter typing suggestions appeal to you, it may be worth adding the S26 to your wish list.
Got an old Samsung S22 or S23? You’ll likely notice a big difference when upgrading to the S26, especially in terms of AI, making this an enticing upgrade.
Image Credit: Samsung
Will there be camera improvements with the S26?
One of the major appeals of Samsung phones is their cameras, so can we expect an upgrade in this department?
Well, fans are predicting camera upgrades on the S26 to be evolutionary, not revolutionary. The standard S26 and S26+ are rumoured to carry over the S25’s main camera specs: a 50 MP primary sensor, 12 MP ultrawide, a 10 MP 3x telephoto, plus a 12MP selfie camera. The base models will likely rely on software or AI to boost photo quality.
The S26 Ultra should see the biggest camera tweaks. Current predictions include sharper low-light shots and slightly better zoom, but perhaps no new focal lengths.
If you’re excited by these prospects, it’s a good idea to get ready for launch. Sell your phone now, while it still has high value, so you can put that money toward the new S26. By planning ahead and taking advantage of pre-order deals, you can save money and upgrade on day one.