Samsung has officially confirmed its first Galaxy Unpacked event of the year. The Galaxy S26 series will be unveiled TODAY, February 25, 2026, live from San Francisco at 1 pm ET / 10 am PT.
Here’s how to watch the event and what to expect, but you can also watch the show in the YouTube link below!
What devices are we expecting?
There are many devices expected to be announced at the event.
We know that we can expect at least three Samsung Galaxy S26 series devices, that would likely include the S26 base, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra.
While the focus at Unpacked is usually the latest flagship phones, there’s also the possibility of seeing some new headphones… the Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.
Both of which have been leaked in full ahead of Samsung’s event. Those buds are reported to feature a brand new design and improved audio quality
Where to watch
As noted you can watch the show below that links to the official Samsung YouTube page.
Galaxy Unpacked February 2026: Official Livestream – YouTube 
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One area where Samsung may have improved this year is camera post-processing. A recent leak from reliable tipster @UniverseIce on X claims Samsung has adopted a new noise reduction algorithm for its cameras.
According to the leaker, photos with skies no longer show visible banding or “fault lines,” instead producing a smoother blue gradient. It’s still too early to judge, but if true, this suggests Samsung has refined its image processing.
It wouldn’t be a Samsung launch without a little Exynos drama. Samsung is once again using the Exynos 2600 in the base Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus across many global markets. The company is making bold claims about the new chip, highlighting its 2nm architecture and significant CPU performance gains.
Chips debate aside, one thing I’m genuinely looking forward to on the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the upgraded primary camera. The 200 MP main sensor is rumored to get a wider f/1.4 aperture, which should let in significantly more light and result in better low-light shots and more natural bokeh. The big question is whether Samsung can finally match the Chinese competition this time?
If you’re considering the standard S26 or S26 Plus, though, do not expect major camera hardware changes. Both are rumored to retain the same 50 MP main, 12 MP ultrawide, and 10 MP 3x telephoto setup from the S25.
That is honestly a bit disappointing, so we’ll have to see if updated ISPs and processing make any noticeable difference.
Speaking of cases, you don’t even have to wait for Samsung to officially launch the devices. Dbrand is already taking orders for its skins, cases, and screen protectors for the entire Galaxy S26 series. Not only does this confirm the design of the smartphone series, but if you’re planning to pick one up, you might as well secure your accessories now.
It’d be unfair not to bring up the Qi2 situation. Samsung is reportedly increasing wireless charging speeds to 25W on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, while the base S26 and S26 Plus are said to go up to 20W. It’s clear that Samsung is doing everything it can to make the S26 series “Qi2 Ready,” but we are still missing built-in magnets across the lineup.
We’re now just a couple of hours away from Unpacked, so it feels like the right time to share some editorial thoughts. First up is the rumored charging speed bump on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Is 60W fast charging really going to be enough? While it’s a clear upgrade over the 45W we’ve been stuck with for years, it still trails the 80W to 100W speeds that have become standard on many Chinese flagship phones.
This event isn’t just about the Galaxy S26, with Samsung slated to roll out the Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro as well. Samsung tends to do a decent job with its buds, and the Buds 4 should get considerable upgrades this time around, including head gestures. Basically, you’ll be able to shake your head or nod to trigger actions, such as taking calls, dismissing alarms, notifications, and reminders.
Software is a major part of a device. You could argue it’s the entire phone itself. We’ve known that One UI 8.5 is expected to play a massive part in today’s launch, but did you know Samsung’s been fueling it with more speed? Supposedly, that’s what early Galaxy S26 users are going to witness. A “smoother,” more “responsive” Galaxy S26 might await you with One UI 8.5. So, I’d reserve right now, before the event.
The Now Bar was an interesting addition to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series. If you’re familiar with Google’s Pixels, it’s kind of like At a Glance. Samsung might look to separate itself by offering more with the Now Bar in One UI 8.5. Some leaks claim that the Now Bar could provide information on missed calls. If you’ve missed one or several calls, the Now Bar would display the appropriate icon alongside the number of calls missed.
If you forgot Bixby existed, I wouldn’t blame you. I did, too. There’s been nothing really attention grabbing about the assistant in a while. There was one major update for it, which, looking back, seems like the start of Samsung paying attention. Now, where we’re at are reports that the company could empower the AI with Perplexity. This won’t be something for all of Bixby’s services, as Perplexity’s intelligence might only impact its real-time searches online. Nothing’s been confirmed by Samsung yet. But, hey, Unpacked is almost here.
Regardless of whether prices go up or stay the same, you still have a few hours to reserve your Galaxy S26 before the event begins. This does not mean paying for the device right away. You’re simply reserving your spot to place an order later, and Samsung is offering a $30 discount along with improved trade-in offers for doing so.
It’s essentially just filling out a form with your name and email address, and you don’t need to enter any card details. If you are even slightly interested, or know someone who is, I would strongly recommend reserving the Galaxy S26 now before the launch kicks off.
Let’s talk pricing. With Apple keeping prices steady for the iPhone 17 lineup, will Samsung feel pressure to do the same with the Galaxy S26 series? Component costs, especially memory and chipsets, have been rising, so Samsung is walking a tightrope between margins and staying competitive.
To recap, we’re expecting three models today: the base Galaxy S26 with a 6.3-inch display, the mid-tier Galaxy S26 Plus with a 6.7-inch display, and the massive 6.9-inch Galaxy S26 Ultra. There were earlier rumors about Samsung launching the Galaxy S26 Edge, but the company reportedly shelved those plans after the Galaxy S25 Edge failed to perform well, sticking instead with the standard Plus variant.
The big day has arrived, and in just a few hours, Samsung’s first Galaxy Unpacked event of 2026 will begin. The Galaxy S26 series is set to be unveiled in San Francisco, and we couldn’t be more excited to see if Samsung has any late surprises.
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