What’s happened? Samsung may stick to its late-January launch schedule for the Galaxy S26 series, contrary to earlier reports suggesting that the company had pushed its Galaxy Unpacked event back by a month.
- Previous reports indicated that Samsung initially planned to include an Edge model in the Galaxy S26 lineup but later decided to replace it with the Plus model due to the Galaxy S25 Edge‘s weak sales performance. This lineup change sparked rumors that the launch event would be postponed to late February.
- Now, in a statement to Chosun Biz, a Samsung Electronics insider has revealed that the company plans to host its Unpacked event by the end of January next year, with the devices expected to hit the shelves in mid-February.
- The insider added that Samsung’s last-minute reshuffle extended the hardware verification period, which almost delayed the launch, but the company has since managed to resolve the issue.
Why is this important? Samsung’s Galaxy S series often sets the tone for each year’s Android flagship lineup. By sticking to its usual late-January schedule, the company seems confident in its upcoming devices despite recent lineup changes.
- This timing will also help the company maintain its edge over major competitors, like OnePlus, Google, and Apple, who typically launch their flagship phones much later in the year.
- Moreover, this development should reassure existing Samsung users who may have been concerned about potential delays to the upcoming One UI 8.5 release.
Why should I care? If you’ve been eagerly waiting to get your hands on one of the Galaxy S26 series devices, you might be able to place your pre-order by the end of January and expect deliveries to begin mid-February.
- An on-schedule launch also means you won’t have to wait longer to experience the new software features Samsung plans to introduce with One UI 8.5.
- And if you’re planning to upgrade later in the year, an early launch gives the devices more time to be tested in the real world, so you’ll have plenty of reviews and comparisons to guide your decision.
What’s next? Samsung still hasn’t made anything official, so the launch timeline isn’t set in stone. The company is expected to announce its next Galaxy Unpacked event early next year, which should give us a clearer picture of when the Galaxy S26 lineup will arrive.
