It’s the start of a new year, and that means one thing on the tech calendar. Samsung will almost certainly launch a new flagship phone. The Korean technology giant is renowned for refreshing its Galaxy S lineup during the winter, and it seems 2026 will be no different. In fact, the latest whispers suggest that the grand unveiling will take place on February 25 at one of the firm’s famous Unpacked showcases.

That February date is the one most tech experts, along with the French website Dealabs, seem to have set their sights on.

Predictions suggest that once the Galaxy S26 is showcases it will then go on sale from the middle of March which means there is still a couple of months before Samsung fans will actually get their hands on one.

Of course, Samsung won’t give anything away until closer to the release date, but it seems its S26 and S26 Ultra could get big updates, including a performance boost, thanks to the latest Qualcomm processor.

Samsung’s Galaxy AI could also get a boost thanks to the extra grunt supplied by the chipset. At its launch, Qualcomm boasted that its refreshed Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will offer “the fastest mobile CPU in the world” and deliver “massive upgrades and experiences that users want today.” We will have to wait and see just how much better it is.

Other extras that are sure to feature include a boost to rear cameras, a new design, better durability and faster charging.

It will also be interesting to see if Samsung follows Google and Pixel and adds magnets into the rear of the device to improve wireless refilling and bring compatibility with MagSafe-style charging stands.

One thing that might not please consumers is the price.

A lack of RAM due to data centres could mean all gadget costs go up, and the Galaxy S26 could be one of the first to see price hikes.

Express.co.uk will be watching Samsung closely to see when an official announcement is made but watch this space.