The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a release date, but the real competition begins later

Samsung is getting ready to show off the much awaited Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, and we finally have clarity on when that’s happening. After weeks of speculation, smartphone analyst Ice Universe has pinned down the dates, and multiple publications have confirmed them. But here’s the thing: while Samsung controls when it reveals the phone, the dates that actually matter for its success are completely out of its hands.

When will we see the next Galaxy Unpacked event?

The company will hold its Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25, where it’ll introduce three phones. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will be the star of the show, packed with top-tier specifications that should make it one of the most powerful smartphones you can buy this year. It’ll be joined by the Galaxy S26 Plus and the standard Galaxy S26, keeping things familiar for Samsung fans.

Many people expected Samsung to mix things up this year. Rumors pointed to a Galaxy S26 Pro, which would have been an upgraded entry-level model with better cameras and a price higher than the $799 Galaxy S25. There was also talk of a Galaxy S26 Edge, a super-thin phone designed to capitalize on the slim phone trend that gained traction in 2025. Neither of those phones are happening now.

What happened to the Galaxy S26 Pro?

The Galaxy S26 Pro idea got shelved because of the iPhone 17. Apple’s standard iPhone 17 sells for $799, and it’s been performing well. Samsung realized it needed to compete directly at that price point rather than push customers toward something more expensive. Fighting for market share at $799 became more important than offering a slightly better phone at a higher cost.
As for the Galaxy S26 Edge, that decision came down to sales data. The Galaxy S25 Edge didn’t sell well despite the hype around thin phones. The fashion statement appeal wore off quickly, and Samsung figured a second thin phone would do even worse. So both experimental models got cut from the lineup.

These changes pushed Samsung’s launch date back by about a month. The company needed extra time to adjust its designs and ramp up production for the devices it actually decided to make. Pre-orders will open on February 26, the day after the announcement. Samsung is using a different approach this year instead of opening pre-orders immediately after the keynote wraps up, which is what they’ve done before.

There’s one detail worth noting. Ice Universe mentioned that the dates they shared are specifically for South Korea, where pre-orders run from February 26 to March 4, followed by a pre-sale period from March 5 to March 10. Whether other countries will follow this same schedule or get their own timelines isn’t clear yet.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra launches on February 25 at Galaxy Unpacked, with pre-orders starting February 26. Keep an eye out for regional announcements if you’re outside South Korea, as your specific dates might differ slightly from what’s been confirmed so far.