Samsung’s Galaxy S26: Samsung is preparing to reveal its next big flagship lineup, the Galaxy S26 series, but new reports suggest that the launch may happen later than expected. According to a report from ETNews (translated), Samsung is planning to hold its next Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25 next year. However, the phones may not actually go on sale in South Korea until the first week of March.
If this timeline is accurate, it would mark the first time in five years that Samsung launches a Galaxy S series in March instead of January or February. Samsung has generally aimed for earlier launches to stay ahead of competitors, so this shift is already drawing attention.
Why the Delay?
The reported delay appears to be connected to a last-minute change in Samsung’s product lineup. Initially, Samsung was said to be working on a completely new ultra-thin model, rumored to be called the Galaxy S26 “Edge.” But now, according to leaks, Samsung is reversing that plan and instead bringing back the “Plus” model, which many believed was being phased out.
This change may have affected everything from the phone’s hardware layout to supply chain ordering. Because of this late adjustment, mass production is reportedly running behind schedule.
A Samsung Electronics representative quoted in the report explained it this way:
“The somewhat delayed product planning affected the timing of the launch. Since it is still in the pre-mass production stage, the final schedule has not been confirmed.”
In other words: Samsung is still deciding the final lineup and, as a result, the release schedule is shifting.
What This Means for Samsung’s Flagship Strategy
For the past few years, Samsung has streamlined the Galaxy S lineup:
- Standard model
- Plus model (in some years)
- Ultra model for power users
However, rumors earlier this year suggested Samsung might cancel the Plus version to simplify the series. Instead, Samsung was exploring a new ultra-slim model to attract users who prefer lighter, thinner phones.
Now it appears Samsung has changed its mind again and is bringing the Plus model back, possibly because:
- It still sells well among mainstream users
- Removing it could have created too large a price and feature gap between the base and Ultra models
- The new “Edge” model may not have performed as expected during development
This back-and-forth could explain the delay. Developing multiple device versions requires different display panels, camera modules, and internal layouts — and changing direction late in the process affects the entire production chain.
Prices May Rise This Year
Along with the schedule shift, the report also claims that Samsung may increase the prices of the Galaxy S26 series. This is reportedly due to rising manufacturing and component costs.
According to internal estimates:
- Mobile processors are now 12% more expensive than last year
- Camera modules have increased in cost by about 8%
- Memory and storage chips have also seen a sharp price hike
These component costs typically make up a large portion of a flagship phone’s total production budget. If Samsung absorbs the cost increase itself, it risks losing profit margins. If it passes the increase on to customers, the phone becomes more expensive at retail.
Given the state of the market, it appears Samsung may choose the latter — meaning consumers could see a noticeable price increase, particularly on the higher-end Ultra model.
What To Expect Next
Nothing has been confirmed officially yet. Samsung has not released any statement regarding:
- The exact launch date
- The final S26 lineup
- Whether the Plus model is officially returning
- Or the price increase
However, Samsung typically finalizes its flagship production schedule around late winter. If the company is still in the pre–mass production stage, that means design decisions are still being finalized and dates could shift further.
More details are likely to leak before the event — Samsung flagships often see design and feature leaks months ahead of launch.
What we do know is:
- The Galaxy S26 launch window is shaping up to be later than usual
- Samsung may be reworking its phone lineup strategy
- And rising production costs could make this year’s phones more expensive
For now, fans may need to wait just a little longer to get their hands on Samsung’s next flagship — and possibly prepare to pay more when it arrives.
