Samsung Electronics kicked off pre-orders for its Galaxy S26 series on February 25, 2026, following the official unveiling at Galaxy Unpacked in San Francisco, where the company positioned the new flagships as its most intuitive AI-powered phones yet, featuring enhanced Galaxy AI experiences, a unified design, and powerful hardware tailored for everyday tasks and creative workflows.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra became available for pre-order immediately after the event at Samsung.com, carrier websites, Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers, with general availability scheduled for March 11, 2026. Pricing starts at $899.99 for the Galaxy S26 (256GB), $1,099.99 for the S26+ (256GB), and $1,299.99 for the S26 Ultra (256GB), marking modest increases of $100 for the base and Plus models compared to the prior generation, while the Ultra holds steady.

All three models feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor customized for Galaxy, delivering up to 19% CPU improvement, 24% GPU boost, and 39% NPU gains for smoother AI processing. The lineup emphasizes proactive and adaptive Galaxy AI features that handle complex tasks in the background—such as managing schedules, finding information, capturing and refining content—reducing user steps and focusing on results rather than mechanics.

The S26 Ultra stands out with a 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display at 120Hz adaptive refresh, a 200MP wide camera with wider F1.4 aperture for better low-light performance, a 50MP ultra-wide, dual telephoto lenses (10MP 3x and 10MP 5x optical zoom), and a 12MP front camera. It includes a built-in Privacy Display that blacks out sensitive information from side angles, a world-first on mobile. Battery capacity is listed at 5,000 mAh with faster 60W charging, and storage options reach 1TB.

The S26+ features a 6.7-inch QHD+ display, 50MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and 4,900 mAh battery, while the standard S26 has a 6.3-inch FHD+ display, 50MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide, and 4,300 mAh battery. All models support 31 hours of video playback in testing.

Galaxy AI enhancements include improved noise reduction, conversational assistants (with Bixby, Gemini, or Perplexity options), advanced photo editing, and features like Now Nudge for activity-based suggestions. The series integrates seamlessly with Samsung's ecosystem, including new Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro announced alongside the phones.

Pre-order incentives vary by retailer. Samsung.com offers up to $900 instant trade-in credit (any condition eligible in some promotions), plus $150 off add-ons without trade-in, a $30 credit for reservations, and limited-time bonuses like double storage in select regions (e.g., 512GB for the price of 256GB). Carriers like AT&T provide $0 down on the S26 Ultra with eligible trade-ins and no plan restrictions, while Best Buy matches trade-in values up to $1,100 and includes free storage upgrades. Amazon bundles gift cards worth $100-$200 with storage bonuses.

The S26 series arrives amid a competitive flagship landscape, with Samsung emphasizing AI simplicity and ecosystem integration to differentiate from rivals. The February Unpacked event—held later than previous years—focused on making AI more intuitive and proactive, reducing friction in daily use.

Availability spans major colors like Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White, Silver Shadow, and Pink Gold, with some online exclusives. Pre-orders include entry into raffles for prizes like $5,000 Samsung credit in certain markets.

As pre-orders ramp up, the Galaxy S26 lineup positions Samsung to maintain leadership in premium Android smartphones, leveraging AI advancements and strong hardware to drive upgrades and new user adoption. With shipments starting March 11, early adopters can secure devices ahead of the full retail rollout.