Samsung Galaxy S26: Leak Points to Late February Unpacked Event and Potential Price Hike

The tech world is buzzing with new details regarding Samsung’s next flagship cycle. While the Galaxy S25 made its debut in January 2025, it appears Samsung is shifting its strategy for 2026. According to high-profile leaks, the Galaxy S26 series will arrive later than usual, accompanied by a major overhaul of Galaxy AI and a potential end to the brand’s long-standing price freeze.

Mark Your Calendars: February 25th Unpacked

Renowned industry tipster Ice Universe has revealed that Samsung is targeting February 25, 2026, for its next major Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco.

This move pushes the launch nearly a month later than the previous generation. While an official “shelf date” hasn’t been locked in, the devices are expected to go on sale in early March. This delay is rumored to be a strategic move to further polish the new “One UI 8.5” software, which will reportedly feature deeply integrated, next-generation AI capabilities.

The End of the Price Freeze?

For the past three years, Samsung has held the line on flagship pricing. However, a report from the Korean publication ET News suggests that economic pressures—specifically rising component costs and the global memory shortage—may finally force the giant’s hand.

Samsung is reportedly debating a “minimal” price increase of between 44,000 won ($31) and 88,000 won ($62) per model.

While official European pricing for the Galaxy S26 series hasn’t been set, we can project the Euro costs based on the leaked USD increases and historical price gaps between the U.S. and Europe.

In Europe, Samsung’s retail prices are typically higher due to included VAT (Value Added Tax) and import costs.¹ For context, the Galaxy S25 launched in early 2025 starting at €909 (128GB) and €969 (256GB).²

Based on the reported €50–€100 hike expected for the 2026 models, here is the estimated European pricing:

Estimated Galaxy S26 Series Pricing (Europe)