I use a Samsung S23, and after three years, it’s still a phone I’m genuinely pleased with. Battery life, performance, camera—everything works reliably, and I’ve never felt the urge to upgrade mid-cycle. But the Galaxy S26 leaks have my attention.
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It’s not because I need a new phone, but because this year, Samsung might finally offer upgrades that matter. Over the past few months, rumors have flown in every direction: Pro replacing S26? Edge replacing Plus? Honestly, it felt like Samsung wasn’t even sure what it wanted to launch.
Now that we’re just weeks away from the next Galaxy Unpacked event (expected February 24), things are starting to make sense. Here’s what we actually know about the Galaxy S26 lineup—and why it might make me consider upgrading.
Why the Galaxy S26 lineup might finally make me upgrade
For the past few Galaxy iterations, upgrades have been mostly incremental: slightly faster chips, tiny camera tweaks, minor battery improvements. And while that’s fine for anyone who needs a new phone or who is buying Samsung for the first time, it hasn’t made me feel the need to switch.
But Galaxy S26 leaks suggest the S26 (or Pro), S26 Edge (or Plus), and S26 Ultra will offer more noticeable changes—especially in cameras, battery, and AI features. That’s the sort of stuff that can improve day-to-day use, not just make them an enticing new sell.
Galaxy S26 leaks: subtle… but confusing
One of the messiest parts of the Galaxy S26 leaks has been figuring out what Samsung is actually launching. Early rumors suggested the base S26 might disappear entirely, replaced by a Galaxy S26 Pro, and that the Plus could be swapped for a new Edge model.
Later leaks claimed that the Edge is likely gone, and the company seems to be stiking with the more familiar trio: Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. The rumors are all over the place, but do make Galaxy Unpacked 2026 interesting to follow! You never know what will pop up.
Galaxy S26 (base) Rumors
The Galaxy S26 name has appeared in multiple leaks and even in an accidental Samsung doc outlining the upcoming lineup. Latest info says it will have a slightly larger 6.3‑inch display, a refreshed vertical camera bump, and an improved ultrawide camera alongside the same main 50 MP shooter from last year. Battery is said to land around 4,300 mAh, with 12 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB storage. So it’s your familiar Galaxy experience — polished a little, but nothing earth-shattering.
Galaxy S26 Plus Rumors
The Plus model looks to be sticking around too, with a rumored 6.7-inch screen, 4,900 mAh battery, and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (or Exynos 2600, depending on the region). Like the base model, it’s mostly incremental updates: slightly bigger, slightly smoother, and running the new One UI 8.5 with some AI tweaks that could make daily use feel snappier. Nothing here screams must upgrade, though, if your current phone is still treating you well.
What’s interesting is that the Plus may not just be a bigger S26. Some leaks suggest it could bring incremental design tweaks and efficiency improvements thanks to Android 16 and One UI 8.5. So use could feel smoother even if the raw numbers aren’t amazing.
Galaxy S26 Ultra leaks: the one that could actually make me upgrade
The changes on the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus look smallish—for now. What has me thinking about upgrading? The Galaxy S26 Ultra. Here’s why:
Multiple sources are pointing toward an upgraded 200 MP main camera and stronger telephoto and ultrawide capabilities. These changes could really improve everyday photos and low‑light compared to what I get on my S23. Rumors also include a potential move to 60W wired charging — something Samsung flagships haven’t had in a while— and a slightly slimmer body.
Performance-wise, most leaks suggest Samsung will use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 “for Galaxy” chip on the Ultra, which will improve speed and efficiency — especially for everyday stuff and on‑device AI features. Exynos variants are likely limited or skipped on this model.
All of this adds up to something that feels like a real flagship. They’re the kind of improvements that could make someone like me (who’s perfectly happy with an S23) wonder if an upgrade is in order.
Takeaway
So where does that leave me—and anyone else who’s been happily using an older Galaxy?
If your phone still works great and you’re not craving the newest tech just for the sake of it, the base S26 and S26 Plus look like small, comfortable upgrades rather than overhauls. You’ll get slightly bigger screens, smoother software with One UI 8.5, and a few camera tweaks that make regular use feel nice. But nothing screams “upgrade this year”.
But the Galaxy S26 Ultra has caught my interest. Between real camera improvements and powerful performance, this might be the first Galaxy Ultra in a long time I’d seriously consider upgrading to. And if those rumors hold—like prices staying similar to last year, upgrading is even easier to justify.