There have been rumors about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 line of phones for months now. For a while, it seemed like Samsung could be replacing its base phone with the Pro. Then we heard that the Plus would be discontinued in favor of the S26 Edge, with the Ultra sticking around. And then there were reports that the S26 Pro would be the new S26 and that the S26 Plus would replace the S26 Edge. It quickly became confusing, to say the least.
Now that the launch of the Galaxy S26 is imminent, it seems like leaks are settling down, with a few speculations finally setting everything straight.
Here's a quick rundown of the latest Galaxy S26 talk to make sense of it all.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus. James Martin/CNET
Galaxy S26 series release date
Samsung typically hosts several Unpacked events each year, with the first usually taking place in either January or February. Most of this year's S25 handsets were announced at a Galaxy Unpacked event on Jan. 22, 2025, and released on Feb. 7.
This year, however, it seems there's a slightly delayed timeline. Multiple reports have said that there could be a Galaxy Unpacked event on Feb. 25 in San Francisco.
It's also possible that additional S26 releases may occur throughout the year. In 2025, for example, Samsung released two more S25 handsets -- the S25 Edge and the S25 FE -- at two separate events in May and September, respectively.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Galaxy S26 Ultra
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