Samsung Galaxy S26 launch might slip past its usual schedule

For the last two years, Samsung has typically launched its flagship Galaxy S phones in late January, with retail availability beginning early February. Initial rumors indicated the Galaxy S26 would also follow a similar release timeline, but a new leak suggests that might not be the case.

In a Weibo post, leaker Ice Universe claims that the Galaxy S26 launch “has been confirmed to be postponed (translated).” The leak is rather vague and does not provide further details about the delay. So, it could be anywhere from a week or two to a month or longer (via SammyGuru).

Still, knowing Samsung, even if the Galaxy S26 launch slips a bit, it’s unlikely to be by much. The company will probably unveil the lineup in early February and put it on sale later that month.

For reference, the Galaxy S25 series debuted on January 22 this year, so an early February launch for the S26 series wouldn’t exactly be a major delay.

Other Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 flagships launch soon

Xiaomi has already launched the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5–powered Xiaomi 17 lineup in China. OnePlus is gearing up to unveil the OnePlus 15 later this month, with a global release likely before the end of 2025. So, Samsung wouldn’t want to delay the Galaxy S26 launch too much.

It’s not clear why the company will have to push back the S26’s release, though. A recent report suggested Exynos could make a big comeback with the S26 lineup, even making its way into the Ultra model after a gap of four years.

Apparently, the Exynos 2600 even outpaces Apple’s A19 Pro chip, boasting up to six times faster AI performance and around 15% higher multi-core CPU scores in early benchmarks. Maybe the delay has something to do with the new chip. Or with something about Samsung ditching the Edge in favor of the Plus model.

Multiple leaks have already revealed almost everything about the Galaxy S26 Ultra, with CAD renders showcasing its rounder design in all its glory. So, unless Samsung has hit a major roadblock, the Galaxy S26’s launch shouldn’t stray too far from its usual schedule.