Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026
Drumroll, please… fresh from Galaxy Unpacked, the Galaxy S26 Series has officially arrived at Harvey Norman! The new Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus and Galaxy S26 Ultra raise the bar with more powerful performance, upgraded cameras and smarter Galaxy AI, plus plenty more where that came from. We’re calling it – this is the upgrade you’ve been waiting for!
Want to know more about Galaxy Unpacked?
No need to phone a friend – we’re breaking down the highlights from the announcement below!
Get the inside scoop >Galaxy Unpacked: Release Date, Pricing & Specs!
The wait is officially over! Samsung announced the new Galaxy S26 Series at their Galaxy Unpacked event on February 26th for us Aussies, revealing a slew of upgrades, including next-gen processors, smarter on-device AI, improved camera capabilities and record-breaking charging speeds, to name a few
And the best part? You don’t have to wait long to get your hands on one – our preorders are live now, with stock available online at Harvey Norman from 11th March. So, if you’ve been thinking about upgrading to the latest model or finally making the switch to Samsung, this is your chance!
Meet the New Galaxy Lineup
The Galaxy S26 Series continues with Samsung’s flagship trio, each bringing something new to the table. Let’s dial in on the details:
- Galaxy S26 - Refined and recharged, pairing an Exynos 2600 processor with a larger 6.3-inch display, bigger battery and expanded storage options – in its thinnest form yet.
- Galaxy S26 Plus - More screen, more stamina, more to love! The Plus boasts a 6.7-inch Quad HD+ display with a larger battery and faster charging, so you can do more without slowing down.
- Galaxy S26 Ultra - The flagship flex that brings the wow factor – from Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 speed and a brighter 200MP camera to a 6.9-inch screen with built-in Privacy Display and Samsung’s quickest charge… ever!
There’s a fresh new palette of colours to choose from, with Black, Sky Blue, White and Cobalt Violet leading the lineup – the latter stealing the spotlight as this year’s hero hue. Which one’s calling your name?
Did you hear? Samsung also announced the new Buds4 Series, turning the volume all the way up on this year's Galaxy Unpacked announcement! Delivering rich, immersive Hi-Fi sound with a more refined, comfortable fit and seamless Galaxy connectivity, the Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro keep your world perfectly in tune.
Next-Gen Powerhouse
Under the hood, the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus run on Samsung’s Exynos 2600 processor. Flexing quicker on-device AI, improved graphics and enhanced efficiency, you’ll notice faster intelligent features, smoother gameplay, sharper photos and performance that stays cool under pressure.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra packs a new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, complete with an upgraded Neural Processing Unit. Translation? Blazing speeds, smarter ondevice AI and stronger efficiency, whether you’re gaming, editing videos or switching between apps. With faster 5G and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity to match, this is flagship performance that keeps up – no matter how hard you push it!
Want to up the ante? Go for a 1TB model, which now comes with 16GB of RAM for seamless multitasking, more responsive gaming and extra muscle for your most demanding apps.
Cameras Worth Zooming in On
This year, Samsung turned its focus to what matters most: image quality.
On the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the 200MP main camera returns, now with an improved aperture and an upgraded ProVisual Engine for brighter shots, richer contrast and video that feels smooth and cinematic.
The S26 and S26 Plus shoot their shot with the same proven camera hardware as Galaxy S25, with AI-powered processing doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes – improving low-light performance, optical zoom and editing.
Smarter Galaxy AI, Built In
AI continues to be at the core of the latest Samsung Galaxy phones. Now with deeper integration and a more conversational Bixby, the Galaxy S26 Series learns your habits and adapts along the way.
Whether it’s summarising a long email before a meeting, finding a restaurant your friend mentioned last week, or removing a stranger from the background of a photo, Galaxy AI is there to lend a helping hand – sometimes before you even realise you need it.
Forget the gimmicks, these are genuinely helpful features that make your Galaxy feel less like a phone and more like your very own pocket-sized personal assistant!
A Bump Up for Batteries & Charging
On paper, battery capacities haven’t changed dramatically – the S26 Plus and Ultra remain the same, while the S26 increases from 4,000mAh to 4,300mAh.
But here’s the thing: more efficient processors and self-optimising batteries mean you can squeeze more out of every single charge, no matter which model you go for.
If you go Ultra, you’ll now get up to 60W wired Super Fast Charging – Samsung’s quickest charge ever, taking you from the red zone to ready-to-roll in record time! Wireless charging is getting an upgrade too, with Super Fast Wireless Charging now coming standard with all three models.
Those are the kind of upgrades we like to see!
Innovation on Display
When a display is already this good, all it needs is some carefully considered tweaks.
Across the lineup, Samsung sticks with vibrant Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays and an AI-powered ProScaler that keeps visuals bright, sharp and beautifully immersive. Here’s how each model measures up:
- Galaxy S26 – Coming in at 6.3 inches, showing off its slimmest profile yet.
- Galaxy S26 Plus – Levels up to a roomy 6.7-inch QHD+ display for streaming, gaming or multitasking.
- Galaxy S26 Ultra – An expansive 6.9-inch QHD+ screen, paired with the thinnest Ultra design to date.
New to the Ultra is a built-in Privacy Display, reducing side-angle visibility when you’re checking messages, banking apps or work emails – ideal for commuters, hybrid workers or anyone who prefers to keep wandering eyes… wondering.
Running the Latest Android Experience
The Galaxy S26 Series comes with Samsung’s new One UI 8.5 platform straight out of the box.
It’s designed to feel more personal than ever with Galaxy AI-powered features throughout – from customisable Quick Panel icons that put your favourite shortcuts front and centre to flexible Lock Screen layouts that automatically adjust around your wallpaper for a cleaner look.
With Android 16 delivering the latest performance upgrades and security enhancements from day one, this is a Samsung phone that truly feels powerful from the inside out!
Your Galaxy Unpacked FAQs
Fast FAQs About Samsung Galaxy Unpacked
Q: When will the new Samsung Galaxy be released?
A:
The Samsung Galaxy S26 range was officially announced at Galaxy Unpacked on 26 February 2026. Australian pre-orders are live now, with stock arriving at Harvey Norman from 11th March.
Q: Is it faster than the Galaxy S25?
A:
The Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus are powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2600, while the S26 Ultra runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 – dishing up improved speed, efficiency and AI performance compared to S25.
Q: Has Samsung Galaxy S26 upsized to a bigger screen?
A:
There hasn’t been a serious screen overhaul this time around, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra has added a built-in Privacy Display to help keep prying eyes at bay.
Q: So, what camera upgrades does the next Galaxy phone get?
A:
All eyes are on the Galaxy S26 Ultra this year, which features an improved aperture and upgraded AI-powered ProVisual Engine to capture more light and fine-tune detail – whether you’re shooting in the dark or zooming in from afar.
Q: Does it charge faster than previous models?
A:
It does! The Galaxy S26 Ultra delivers its quickest charge ever with 60W wired Super Fast Charging, plus Super Fast Wireless Charging is now available across the entire range.
Q: Do all Galaxy S26 models share the same Galaxy AI features?
A:
Yes. From intelligent photo editing to smarter search and instant summaries, every Galaxy S26 Series model includes the same Galaxy AI features.
Q: What models are in the next Galaxy lineup?
A:
Samsung has stuck with the usual three models: Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus and Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Q: Is the Samsung Galaxy S26 more expensive than the S25?
A:
Pricing varies depending on the model and storage configuration. For the latest Australian pricing and pre-order offers, check online or in-store at Harvey Norman.
