Overview
- On its Q4 earnings call, Qualcomm said its baseline assumption is supplying about 75% of Galaxy S26 chipsets, after having 100% share in the S25 generation.
- Reporting indicates Samsung is likely to continue a split chipset approach, with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in many markets and the unannounced Exynos 2600 used in select regions.
- Multiple outlets report a later timeline, with an Unpacked event targeted for February 25 in San Francisco and South Korea retail availability likely in early March.
- Leaked details suggest the S26 Ultra retains most S25 Ultra camera hardware, with a modest upgrade to a 12MP 3x telephoto, while wider apertures for some lenses remain unconfirmed.
- Software-focused camera changes are tipped across the lineup, including a 24MP default shooting mode, an Adaptive Pixel noise‑reduction blend, a focus‑speed slider, APV video modes, and a more rounded design shown in recent leaks.