What to expect from Samsung Unpacked 2026: The 5 biggest rumors on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Buds 4 Pro, and more

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ZDNET Highlights

• The next Samsung Unpacked event should introduce new mobile gadgets to the market.
• Samsung is set to announce new Galaxy S26 models, including the Ultra.
• There is expected to be talk of UI updates, redesigned earbuds, and possibly AI glasses.

Unlike the last two years, Samsung is not hosting an Unpacked event in January 2026. Instead, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to be announced a month later, just before Mobile World Congress (MWC). Ahead of the launch event, reports point to the release of several major products, including some fan favorites and possibly surprises.

Also: These Samsung Galaxy S26 rumors suggest big changes we didn’t see coming

From the expected new Galaxy S-series phones to some unexpected goodies, here’s what you can expect from the Samsung Unpacked event in February.

When is the Samsung Unpacked 2026 event?

Samsung has not yet announced the official date of its upcoming event. However, South Korean media The organizations have suggested that the company hold its inaugural Unpacked event in San Francisco on February 25, 2026.

Trusted tipster Evan Blass has gilded This launch timeline. This schedule will add another week to the release timeline and push the in-store date to March. So, the new Galaxy S26 series is expected to be in your hands in early March.

Also: 5 preinstalled Samsung apps you should remove ASAP — they’re basically bloatware

If you want to watch the Unpacked 2026 event online, you can visit the Samsung website youtube To tune into the live stream. You’ll likely find a “Notify me” button closer to the launch, so you can get alerts before the live stream starts. Here are five things we expect from the next Samsung Unpacked event.

What to expect from Samsung Unpacked 2026?

1. Don’t sleep on Samsung Galaxy S26

It is no surprise that the rumor mill has become heated ahead of the launch of the Galaxy S26. There were reports that Samsung will replace its base model in its flagship lineup with the “Galaxy S26 Pro” in early 2026. However, these rumors have since rejectedAnd now we know that the S26 Pro is just the base model of the Galaxy S26.

Also: If these Samsung Galaxy S26 rumors are true, I may finally end my Google Pixel allegiance

As usual, we can get the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus below the Ultra variant. According to a report, both may get a camera upgrade to an ultrawide-angle sensor, which can be upgraded from 12MP to 50MP. Android Headlines.

The lower-end model may have a slightly larger 6.3-inch screen and a 4,300mAh battery (300mAh more than the Galaxy S25’s 4,000mAh cell). This device can be paired with 12GB RAM and up to 512GB storage.

2. Will the Edge model replace the Plus?

There are rumors that Samsung may drop the “Plus” moniker and move to a new slim phone, the Galaxy S26 Edge. According to reliable tipster ice universeThe super-slim Samsung phone could house a 4,200mAh battery and measure just 5.5mm thick, which is 0.3mm thinner than the S25 Edge and 0.1mm thinner than the iPhone Air.

Also: These Samsung Galaxy S26 rumors suggest big changes we didn’t see coming

The Galaxy S26 Edge may have a 6.7-inch screen as before. While there are conflicting rumors about Samsung continuing with the Edge in its future lineup, I liked using the Galaxy S25 Edge — especially because it had fewer hardware limitations than Apple’s iPhone Air.

3. How much more ‘Ultra’ can Samsung get?

Samsung’s Ultra phones need a major ergonomic overhaul, and leaked renders of the Galaxy S26 Ultra suggest minor changes to the design. I couldn’t use the Galaxy S25 Ultra as my daily driver last year, despite its comparatively lightweight design (218 grams), due to its sharp edges.

According to leaked renders, Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra may feature curved corners and a raised vertical camera bump on the back compared to its predecessor. The device is said to be 0.3mm thin, 7.9mm thick and feature the new M14 OLED display.

The company recently released teaser videos of a new privacy feature that can protect your on-screen information from unknowing strangers. I am guessing that this technology will be the biggest talking point after the launch.

Also: I tried Samsung’s $2,900 tri-foldable phone ahead of its US debut — it won me over in minutes

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra may feature a larger 1/1.1-inch 200MP Sony sensor with an f/1.4 aperture for the main camera. The device is said to emit 47% more light to capture better photos in low light conditions. I hope the phone also gets a telephoto camera upgrade, but we’ll have to wait and see.

All three Samsung Galaxy S26 phones are reported to be powered by different processors in different regions. In the US and China, you can get Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5-powered devices, while the rest of the world can see the Exynos 2600 variant.

Historically, Samsung’s in-house Exynos chipsets have been notorious for poor heat management, but the new processor may change that problem. according to korea economic dailyThe Exynos 2600 may include an NPU that is estimated to be 30% faster than Qualcomm’s flagship chipset.

4. New One UI 8.5 Features

Samsung released its One UI 8 with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 last year, and is expected to announce One UI 8.5 in an upcoming launch. For reference, 8.5 has been available in beta From December, so we know what to expect.

The stable version of One UI 8.5 may bring an expanded dark theme, enhanced Home Up support, lockscreen widget support and more AI features, including Samsung’s take on Apple’s notification summary feature. In the beta version, One UI 8.5 also allows you to resize folders and improve inter-device connectivity.

5. Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

According to a report in September sammobile and one x postSamsung is developing a pair of Galaxy Buds 4 devices. The codename in strings was seen in the One UI 8.5 leak.

Leaked renders from Android Authority It was suggested that the Galaxy Buds 4 and 4 Pro could be a new design. They appear to have a flat stem and a new wire grill design element on the side. We don’t know about new features and audio improvements yet, but we might get new flagship earbuds with the Galaxy S26 lineup in February.

Also: Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: I tried both models, and this pair wins

Samsung may also showcase its smart AI glasses at the Galaxy Unpacked event. Although the launch is unlikely, we may get a teaser of Samsung’s rival Meta Ray-Ban at the event. The company is partnering with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to create its new wearable device.