Curious why we’re speaking about Samsung’s subsequent Galaxy Unpacked so early, after they often launch their flagship telephones in January? Effectively, there have been a ton of Galaxy S26 leaks recently, and we thought you’d need all of it in a single spot! From how you can watch to what we’re anticipating, we have you lined proper right here.
This 12 months, we count on to see a attainable shuffle within the Galaxy S26 lineup with rumors about Samsung giving up the S26 Plus variant for a extra premium Edge mannequin. Apart from that, we count on to see some software program upgrades, presumably the Galaxy Buds 4, and naturally, we’re hoping to see Samsung’s most hyped tri-fold gadget, which might launch quickly in choose nations.
Easy methods to watch the 2026 Galaxy Unpacked
This one appears easy and most predictable. Whereas a fortunate few journalists and influencers get to attend Samsung’s Unpacked occasions in particular person, the remainder of us must make do with a stay stream of the launch on its official web site and YouTube platforms. Samsung will seemingly launch its stay stream hyperlink within the days main as much as the occasion, and you may click on the “notify me” button to obtain a heads-up earlier than the stay stream begins.
Whereas it is too early for us to know precisely when and the place the occasion will happen, if Samsung sticks to its standard schedule, it will in all probability be within the second or third week of January. The “the place” continues to be a secret!
So, what can we count on from the Galaxy Unpacked occasion, and can Samsung’s new choices stage up this 12 months? Let’s “Unpack” it for you.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Professional, Plus, Extremely, and Edge
Samsung may very well be switching issues up with its subsequent flagship lineup, as a number of leaks have indicated to this point. For what it is price, it will not see a drastic shift, as it is going to allegedly maintain onto its primary trio — the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Extremely. We have heard chatter that Samsung might doubtlessly rebrand the bottom mannequin because the Galaxy S26 Professional.
There are additionally rumors of a fourth cellphone becoming a member of the get together this 12 months. The Galaxy S26 Edge was thought to switch the Plus, however latest rumors recommend Samsung is now contemplating including each telephones to the lineup.
As for the trio’s design, Samsung does not appear to be making drastic adjustments to it, at the least in line with the most recent leaks. The units seem to resemble their predecessors; nonetheless, they may function a thinner profile, much like the latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. If the Korean OEM is chasing thinness, it might find yourself utilizing thinner digital camera modules which are built-in with the rear panel, making the body sleeker. CAD-based renders of Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup again the truth that the Professional and Extremely fashions will not look totally different.
Nonetheless, the Galaxy S26 Edge might present up with its rear panel dominated by a digital camera island that spans almost the cellphone’s total width, very similar to Apple’s iPhone 17 Professional.
Talking of cameras, the Galaxy S26 Professional would retain its predecessor’s digital camera array. However, the Galaxy S26 Extremely may get a contemporary set of lenses. Leaks recommend that there may very well be a bigger 200MP Sony principal sensor, whereas others recommend minimal {hardware} adjustments for the quad-camera setup with a brand new 200MP principal, 50MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto, and 50MP 5x periscope lens.
Rumors additionally point out that the brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip might energy telephones in some areas, whereas others might get the Exynos 2600 processor. All fashions are rumored to function a base of at the least 12GB of RAM, with a attainable soar to 16GB as an possibility. The collection will launch with Android 16 and Samsung’s One UI 8.5.
As for the battery, the bottom model might function a 4,300mAh battery, the Edge variant may need a bigger 4,200mAh battery, and the Extremely is anticipated to get an enormous 5,500mAh battery. S Pen followers may breathe a sigh of aid because the cellphone will seemingly maintain the S Pen, undertake a slimmer construct, and assist sooner 60W charging.
Nevertheless it’s essential to notice that these are nonetheless preliminary leaks, and all these options could not make it on the precise gadget. We’ll know extra about these flagship fashions within the coming months.
One UI 8.5
Samsung launched the One UI 8 a lot earlier than scheduled with its foldables this 12 months, contemplating the Korean OEM often drops main UI upgrades with its flagship units. That mentioned, the following lineup is alleged to get some main options with the rumored One UI 8.5.
On the UI entrance, customers can count on an expanded darkish theme, a pressured icon theming possibility, lock display widget assist, and a common cursor when utilizing exterior shows. For media, Samsung is bringing in enhancements like new Audio APIs, an HDR/SDR brightness slider, enhanced media router privateness, and private audio sharing by way of the output switcher.
One UI 8.5 can be anticipated to closely leverage AI, as the corporate is supposedly creating a “Notification Summaries” function that can present fast recaps of prolonged messages and group conversations, which may very well be completed with a easy toggle.
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What actually excited us is the rumored “privateness show” function that’s allegedly within the works. This may very well be what makes the Galaxy S26 collection’ large product stand out from every part else on the market proper now. We first noticed mentions of this function again in September; nonetheless, only a few days in the past, one other tipster posted screenshots exhibiting the toggle possibility for this “privateness show.”
Because the title suggests, this function might restrict how a lot of your display is seen to these standing subsequent to you, particularly if you’re in a crowded space and getting into your banking particulars in your gadget.
That mentioned, this function is alleged to be embedded throughout the workings of the brand new flagship. It’s going to routinely activate if you’re utilizing delicate apps — like banking, messaging, or fee providers — or when the cellphone detects you’re in a crowded place. It’s going to apparently use what Samsung calls “Flex Magic Pixel expertise,” which tweaks how pixels behave in real-time, in all probability with AI, to make display content material tremendous laborious to learn until you’re the proprietor of the gadget.
There additionally appears to be a number of ranges of privateness, together with a “Most Privateness” mode that closely dims the display for stronger safety, and guide settings for individuals who choose full management.
Galaxy Buds 4
Galaxy Buds 4 Professional Software program testing has began ‼️Construct take a look at :R640XXU0AYI1/R640XXU0AYI1 pic.twitter.com/lvSL008SrdSeptember 19, 2025
As for the next-gen Galaxy Buds, we have a couple of leaks to this point that trace at their existence. Final month, a leak steered that the Korean OEM has began naming its subsequent buds, the Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Professional, utilizing what seem like inside code names. The take a look at server construct supposedly holds clues in its code concerning the alleged earbuds, with hints to base and Professional mannequin numbers SM-R540 and SM-R640, respectively.
Since they have been discovered within the strings in Samsung’s take a look at server code, there’s not sufficient details about them, so nothing on specs or options as but. However we do know that they exist and are within the works. In one other leak from tipster Alfaturk on X, it claims the corporate has additionally began creating the firmware for these alleged Buds 4 and 4 Professional fashions. We’ll in all probability see extra as we get nearer to the launch, allegedly in January.
Galaxy G Fold (Tri-fold)
Samsung has repeatedly dropped hints that it’s engaged on a tri-fold gadget. Be it in the course of the January Unpacked or the MWC this 12 months. A Korean information web site reported earlier this 12 months that Samsung Electronics was engaged on launching the “Galaxy G Fold” and the Galaxy Z Fold 7, however that did not occur.
We’ve not seen official renders and even leaks of the Galaxy Z TriFold; nonetheless, animation movies have been popping up fairly a bit. The latest one exhibits the gadget sporting a U-shaped fold, all however confirming that Samsung’s Trifold incorporates a central cowl show flanked by two panels that fold round it. The animation additionally exhibits one other attention-grabbing element concerning the alleged cameras on the gadget, which helps you to shoot selfies with the principle rear cameras.
Nonetheless, it might function a “newly developed show and movie.” Different alleged specs are that the gadget’s principal inside show shall be round 9.96 inches, and the exterior show shall be 6.49 inches, which is barely bigger than the latest Huawei Mate XT.
By way of design, it’s mentioned to sport a titanium body, 16GB of RAM, and a Snapdragon chipset, and surely, it is going to include a hefty price ticket.
Extra lately, a “particular person aware of the corporate’s plans” advised CNN that the U.S. has been part of their launch discussions. Samsung was rumored to launch its Trifold cellphone first solely in South Korea, earlier than increasing it throughout different areas based mostly on how the cellphone fares within the home market. Nonetheless, it may be switching issues up with the Trifold by launching it concurrently in each its house market and the U.S., quite than staggering the discharge.
Nonetheless, it is unclear if a U.S. launch will occur on the identical time, if in any respect. A staggered launch might occur, which suggests we might have to attend a bit longer to see the Trifold stateside, presumably in the course of the Galaxy S26 launch. It is conjecture at this level, however both manner, we’ll be maintaining a tally of this one.
