Samsung Electronics' next flagship Galaxy S26 series is expected to launch in three models: the base model, the S26 Plus and the top-end S26 Ultra. Industry sources say Samsung is preparing broad upgrades across the lineup, including design changes and improvements to the display, camera and battery. IT outlet PhoneArena reported the details on Jan. 14 local time.

Design changes stand out first. The Galaxy S26 Ultra may move away from the boxy, angular look of the Note line and switch to rounded corners. The change is seen as aimed at strengthening design consistency across the series and improving grip. The base S26 and Plus models, by contrast, are expected to adopt a revised rear camera island design, with lenses no longer protruding as separate elements.

On the display, the Ultra model may add a new "privacy display" feature. It uses artificial intelligence to detect when people nearby are peeking at the screen and then hides certain elements or apps. It would provide security functions without an existing privacy film.

The S26 and S26 Plus are also expected to slightly increase screen sizes to 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches, respectively, while the Ultra model is expected to use an M14 OLED panel that is brighter and more power-efficient.

Camera performance is also expected to improve. The S26 Ultra may widen the apertures of its main camera and 5x zoom telephoto camera, potentially improving low-light shooting and night photo quality. That is expected to lead to less noise and better portrait photo quality.

Samsung is expected to maintain a two-track strategy for processors by region. Some markets are expected to get Samsung's Exynos 2600 based on a 2-nanometre process, while other regions are expected to get Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite 5th-generation chip. There was earlier speculation the Ultra model would use Snapdragon only at first, but it now appears likely all three models will split chipsets by region.

Battery and charging performance are also set to improve. The S26 is expected to use a roughly 4,300 mAh battery and the S26 Ultra a 5,200 mAh battery. Charging speeds discussed include 60W wired and 25W wireless for the Ultra, and up to 45W wired for the base model. The base model is expected to be thinner at 6.9 mm versus its predecessor's 7.2 mm, though its weight could rise slightly.

The launch date is most likely Feb. 25. That would be somewhat later than earlier expectations, but multiple rumours point to the same date. On pricing, some expect a $50 to $100 increase due to rising component costs, while others say Samsung is considering some specification adjustments to keep prices unchanged.

Samsung has not yet released official information on the Galaxy S26 series, and final specifications and prices are expected to be confirmed at the time of announcement.