I've looked at every Samsung Galaxy S26 price and release date rumor so far here's what I think will happen

Date:
Fri, 09 Jan 2026 21:07:43 +0000

Description:
I've predicted the announcement, pre-order, and on-sale dates for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, along with the possible prices.

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This year, like every year, Samsungs upcoming flagship phones have been
tipped extensively, with rumors revealing many of the likely specs and features, as well as commenting on possible pricing and release dates.

So we now have a good idea of what to expect from the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, though when it comes to prices and the release date in particular,
not all of the rumors agree.

But having looked through all of them and factoring in Samsungs typical launch timings Ive predicted when I think the Galaxy S26 series will be announced, when pre-orders will open, when the phones will ship, and how much they will cost. Samsung Galaxy S26 announcement date predictions The Samsung Galaxy S25 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Various sources have put forward possible Samsung Galaxy S26 announcement dates, with the consensus being that this series will be unveiled sometime between January and March, but thats quite a wide window.

Some early reports suggested the phones had been delayed from Samsungs
typical January launch window to March, due perhaps to a rumored decision to scrap the Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge and replace it with a Galaxy S26 Plus requiring more time for Samsung to prep the replacement model.

That reasoning makes sense, but more recent rumors have been a bit more optimistic, as for example we heard in early November that the Samsung Galaxy S26 series might be unveiled in late January .

However, the most recent claimed leaks all agree on a February launch with multiple sources getting more specific , and saying the Samsung Galaxy S26 series will be announced on February 25 .

Weve heard this from at least three different sources now, including some
very credible ones, so Id be surprised if February 25 wasnt the announcement date . That would still be later than normal, but if Samsung had to develop a Plus model at short notice, that would make sense. Samsung Galaxy S26 pre-order date predictions The Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

There arent any leaks or rumors about when pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series will open. But given that in past years pre-orders have generally opened on the announcement day, theres no reason to think it would be any different this year.

So assuming the Samsung Galaxy S26 series is announced on February 25 as I predict it will be pre-orders will probably also start on that day. Samsung Galaxy S26 on-sale date predictions The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

There also arent any on-sale date rumors for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, but in recent years the company has always shipped these phones around two weeks after pre-orders opened; give or take a couple of days.

So I expect the same will be the case here, with the Samsung Galaxy S26
series arriving on doorsteps somewhere in the region of 12 to 16 days after pre-orders open.

Given my predictions above, that would mean an on-sale date of between March
9 and March 13. Samsung Galaxy S26 price predictions The Samsung Galaxy S25 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Predicting the price of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series is tricky, because
while multiple sources suggest that these phones will have the same prices as their predecessors, some others point to a price increase , with one more specifically saying to expect a price increase of roughly $30 / 22 / AU$45 to $50 / 37 / AU$75.

For reference, the Samsung Galaxy S25 starts at $799 / 799 / AU$1,399, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus starts at $999 / 999 / AU$1,699, and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1,299 / 1,249 / AU$2,149, so thats the minimum Id think youll have to pay for their successors.

But will the prices rise? Weve heard recent leaks pointing in both
directions, so its hard to say. But if I had to guess, Id say they probably will though perhaps only a small amount, in line with the $30 / 22 / AU$45
to $50 / 37 / AU$75 claim above.

Samsung will probably be reluctant to push prices up too much, but at the
same time, a combination of tariffs and rising memory prices mean these
phones will almost certainly cost more to make than the Samsung Galaxy S25 series did at launch.

Still, theres some hope that prices wont increase, especially as Samsung Galaxy S26 specs leaks suggest these phones might only be a modest upgrade.

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