Samsung has announced its first Galaxy Unpacked event of 2026 on February 25 in San Francisco, where the company expects to unveil the Galaxy S26 series and updates to Galaxy AI. The event, starting at 1 p.m. ET, follows leaks suggesting new smartphones with advanced processors and features. Reservations for the devices are already open with promotional credits and trade-in offers.
Samsung kicked off 2026 with a "First Look" event at CES, but its major smartphone reveal comes at the Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25 in San Francisco. The livestream begins at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) and will be available on Samsung's YouTube channel, Samsung Newsroom, and Samsung.com.
The event is anticipated to introduce the Galaxy S26 lineup, including the standard Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. Leaks indicate these phones will feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip in the US and China, or Samsung's Exynos 2600 processor in other markets. The Galaxy S26 may include a 6.3-inch display, 12GB of RAM, up to 512GB storage, and a 4,300mAh battery, with varying reports on camera upgrades. The S26 Plus is expected to have a 6.7-inch display and measure 7.35mm thick. For the S26 Ultra, rumors point to 16GB RAM, up to 1TB storage, a 5,000mAh battery, 60-watt wired and 25-watt wireless charging, and an aluminum frame.
Only the Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to have major hardware changes, such as an updated camera system and support for Qi2 charging. Samsung may also reveal the Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro, featuring redesigned stems, head gesture support, and an Ultra Wideband chip for easier location via Google Find Hub.
Galaxy AI updates are highlighted in the event invite, which includes animated elements like a sparkling cube symbolizing AI. New features could include a privacy shield that blocks display views from angles and faster on-device generative AI through a partnership with Nota AI.
Pre-reservations are open, offering a $30 credit, entry into a $5,000 Samsung.com gift card drawing, up to $900 in trade-in savings, or $150 off without trade-in. The timing positions Samsung ahead of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.