Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026: In summary
- Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked event is confirmed for 25 February
- The Galaxy S26 range is all but guaranteed
- Don’t expect new Z foldables or Galaxy Watches
- There might be some surprises in store
Even before it was officially confirmed, this year’s first Samsung Unpacked event had become one of the worst kept secrets in tech, with no shortage of leaks and rumours pointing towards all the major reveals. Still, if you’re curious to find out what Samsung has in store, or would like to know how to tune into the livestream and at what time, then we’ve got all the information below.
As one of the major events on the tech calendar, Samsung Unpacked is a chance to see what the Korean brand has in store for this generational cycle, and given that the company puts out everything from phones to tablets, smartwatches and more, it’s well worth tuning in if you plan on upgrading your current tech.
There are typically two Samsung Unpacked events throughout the year but it’s the first of the two (the one that’s about to happen) which carries the most weight, as it typically debuts the latest range of flagship Samsung Galaxy phones.
This year, after about a month delay on the usual timing, all signs point towards the Galaxy S26 series being unveiled, and if you’re upgrading from a much older device, then you’ll definitely want to check out all of the pre-order incentives that Samsung usually drops after the event comes to an end.
Although we have a good idea of what’s about to be unveiled, there’s always a chance that Samsung might have been able to sneak a surprise product into the mix, so you won’t want to miss out. Keep on scrolling to find out what time Samsung Unpacked 2026 is set to kick off and what we expect to see there.
When is the next Samsung Unpacked launch event?
After no shortage of rumours about release dates and production timelines being in constant flux behind the scenes, we now know that Samsung Unpacked 2026 will air at 6pm UK time, Wednesday 25 February.
Samsung
To make committing the date to memory even easier, Samsung’s landing page for the event has a helpful ‘Add to calendar’ function. You can also register your interest to get a guaranteed £30/$30 voucher when you buy one of the upcoming phones, and you can even get a 512GB model for the same price as a 256GB one, effectively getting you more local storage at no extra cost.
If you think that isn’t enough, 10 lucky people who do register will be gifted a £500 voucher (it’s $5000 up for grabs in the US) to be spent on Samsung’s online store in any way they see fit, which means you could get one of the cheaper Galaxy phones for free.
Long-time Samsung fans will know that this year’s Unpacked is happening slightly later than usual as the last few iterations have taken place in January. While we don’t know for sure what caused the delay, rumour has it that plans to use the new Exynos 2600 chipset in every S26 model was the culprit, before the plan was seemingly reversed in favour of some models getting the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 instead.
How to watch the Galaxy Unpacked live stream
When Unpacked starts, you’ll be able to watch the live stream from just about any device. We’ve embedded the video below.
The event itself will take place in San Francisco.
What will Samsung launch at the next Unpacked?
If all the rumours are true, then there will be no less than three mainline phones set to debut during the next Galaxy Unpacked event, each with a different value proposition.
Galaxy S26/S26+
Luke Baker
The entry-level flagship and its plus-sized sibling are all but confirmed to make an appearance, but anyone hoping for a major upgrade over last year’s Galaxy S25 phones will be disappointed.
While these phones are set to get a performance bump with the upcoming Exynos 2600 chipset, which appears to have performed incredibly well on Geekbench testing, very little has changed over their immediate predecessors.
The cameras remain unchanged, and the same goes for the display tech, although the standard S26 will likely get a slightly larger 4,300mAh battery.
Much like Apple, Samsung seems set to move away from offering a 128GB model on its entry-level flagship, with the S26’s starting configuration set at 256GB. While more storage is always good, there could be a price hike to go with it, which may put off potential adopters.
Galaxy S26 Ultra
Luke Baker
Samsung’s top-tier flagship for 2026, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will likely make its first appearance during the Samsung Unpacked event.
From what we’ve heard so far, the phone may be more iterative than we would have liked it to be, but unlike the S26 and S26+, there are a few tangible upgrades that could make a difference to day to day use.
The big new feature which Samsung has been teasing is a privacy display that can block out private information to anyone who might be peeping just over your shoulder. If the technology works as intended, it could be a game-changer for mobile security, especially when it comes to mobile banking.
Although the battery size will likely remain at 5000mAh, there’s a chance that the charging speed could be bumped up to 60W over a wired connection. While not exactly the 100W solution provided by the Honor Magic 8 Pro, this is still a win for Samsung fans.
The new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will also make an appearance, bringing the phone up to speed with other flagships like the OnePlus 15.
Galaxy Buds 4 series
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Alongside the key Samsung phones for 2026, the successors to the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 range are also set to debut, with the standard Galaxy Buds 4 and the more premium Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.
According to leaked renders of these earbuds, they could make use of a metal exterior on the stem, giving them a more distinct appearance. On the features front, the buds may implement head gesture controls, not too dissimilar to what we’ve seen with the latest AirPods.
What we don’t expect to see at the next Unpacked
Don’t hold your breath for these devices making an appearance during this upcoming Samsung Unpacked.
Luke Baker
Galaxy Foldables
Although we’re starting to know a bit more about the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and the Z Fold 8 (as well as its squatter/wider version), those phones are all but guaranteed to turn up during the following Samsung Unpacked event that’s likely to happen in the summer.
Samsung Galaxy Watches
Just like with the brand’s foldable line-up, Samsung has made a habit of debuting its newer wearables later in the year, so anyone holding out for a successor to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 or a new Galaxy Watch Ultra will need to wait just a little while longer.
Author: Chris Martin, Managing Editor, Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor Managing Editor Chris got his break as a reporter at infamous site The Inquirer and has been with us for more than 12 years. With a BA degree in Music Technology, audio is his specialism, but over the years he has reviewed all kinds of gadgets, from smartwatches to mesh Wi-Fi to coffee machines.