Samsung Galaxy S26 release date in Australia + all the juicy rumours

The rumour mill is buzzing as we approach the first major phone launch of the year with Samsung's Galaxy S26 series. The only catch is that the unveiling could take place later than expected.

We absolutely froth a new phone launch, and the impending release of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series is one of the most anticipated of the year.

While we expected Samsung to launch its latest flagship in late January, as it has in recent years, new intel suggests we'll need to wait a little longer.

When is the Samsung Galaxy S26 series launching in Australia?

Two of the biggest Samsung leakers - Ice Universe and Evan Blass - have confirmed that the Galaxy S26 series won't be released until 26 February 2026 in Australia.

The Galaxy Unpacked event will be held in San Francisco. For us Aussies, it means being up in the wee hours of the morning to watch the event in real time.

But don't worry - you can always skip the early alarm and check back here for all the updates, as I'll take one for the team instead.

The date of 25 February is 100% correct. You can take it to the bank. https://t.co/YYe7P85Nwv

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) January 6, 2026

When will the Galaxy S26 series go on sale in Australia?

We expect pre-orders to go live on 26 February, the day of the launch itself, with the official sale following a couple of weeks later on 12 March.

If past launches are anything to go by, you can expect pre-order offers from Samsung directly, telcos such as Optus, Telstra and Vodafone, or retailers such as Amazon.

You can check out last year's pre-order deals for the S25 series to set your expectations.

How much will the Galaxy S26 series cost?

Rumours about the prices of the upcoming Galaxy S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra are a mixed bag.

While tipster Ice Universe claims Samsung plans to keep prices the same as last year, other reports suggest the tech giant hasn't yet made a final decision.

Rising manufacturing costs, particularly for storage, are a key factor due to the AI boom.

This could mean we won't see the double storage offer during the pre-order period like we did last year.

According to Android Central, a South Korean outlet (FNNews) reports that Samsung will bump the price of the entire Galaxy S26 lineup by 44,000 won to 88,000 won ($45-$90).

To refresh your memory and understand the impact, here's a look at last year's pricing:

What's the rumour mill saying about the Galaxy S26's specs and features?

Several speculations are circulating, and the main takeaway seems to be that it'll be an evolution rather than a revolution for the S26 series.

Here's what's caught our interest.

1. The Galaxy S26 Plus is here to stay (for now):
   According to The Elec, Samsung cancelled the production of the Galaxy S26 Edge in October 2025, which was originally going to replace the S26 Plus. This is largely due to the low sales of the S25 Edge. Given the short timeframe, the S26 Plus is likely to be very similar to its predecessor. This includes a 6.7-inch screen and the same 4,900mAh battery capacity.
2. New camera design:
   The biggest change appears to be in the camera islands across the three models. A vertical, pill-shaped camera bump will replace the camera rings, as you can see in this post on X:

   If this is the Galaxy S26 series, do you agree with Samsung's design direction? pic.twitter.com/wMtbvzegue

   — Jason C. (@_TheJasonC) January 9, 2026

3. Other design and display changes:
   We're also expecting the S26 Ultra to have more rounded corners, which should improve how it feels in the hand. The display for the S26 base model is expected to grow from 6.17 to 6.27 inches and the S26 Ultra could see a better display, which will make it brighter, thinner and more power efficient.
4. Performance, software and AI: We're likely to see some performance gains, with the S26 Ultra expected to run the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which Phone Arena and Ice Universe suggest will deliver faster speeds. Meanwhile, the S26 and S26 Plus are tipped to use the Exynos 2600, with leaked benchmarks indicating it isn't far behind Samsung's top Snapdragon chip.
5. Other bits and bobs: We may see slightly bigger batteries on the S26 and S26 Ultra; there will likely be no changes to the camera specs across the lineup, and Samsung's flagship lineup will finally adopt native Qi2 magnetic charging capabilities.

That's a wrap for now. We'll keep you updated as more rumours come to light, especially closer to launch day.