It’s Finally Here: Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Pre-Orders Are Live 📱

By TF2 Smartphone Solutions | 26 February 2026

🚨 Pre-Orders Are NOW LIVE!

As of yesterday evening (25th February, 6pm GMT), you can officially pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. Full retail launch: 11th March 2026.

Yesterday happened. And if you’re a Samsung enthusiast, a tech obsessive, or simply someone whose current phone has started making concerning noises when you charge it—yesterday was rather significant indeed.

At 6pm GMT on 25th February 2026, Samsung hosted Galaxy Unpacked in San Francisco. The event livestreamed globally via YouTube, Samsung.com, and the Samsung Newsroom. By 7pm, the presentation had concluded. By 7:01pm, pre-orders had officially opened across the UK.

The Galaxy S26 series is real. It’s official. And crucially—you can order one right now.

But should you? That’s the rather more interesting question, isn’t it?

What Actually Launched Yesterday

Samsung unveiled three models at yesterday’s Unpacked event: the Galaxy S26, the Galaxy S26 Plus, and the flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra. No surprises there—leaks had comprehensively spoiled the lineup weeks in advance. What Samsung did manage to keep relatively under wraps, however, were the finer details of what makes these devices genuinely compelling.

Let’s start with what’s consistent across all three models: a redesigned camera island that ditches the separate lens approach for a unified, raised camera bar reminiscent of the iPhone 17 Pro. It’s a polarising design choice—some will love the cleaner aesthetic, others will miss the distinctive Galaxy look. But it’s undeniably premium.

All three phones ship with Android 16 running Samsung’s One UI 8.5 on top—the “.5” designation suggesting meaningful feature additions beyond the base One UI 8 release. Galaxy AI capabilities have been enhanced significantly, with improved on-device processing courtesy of 12GB of RAM now standard across the entire lineup (the S26 Ultra tops out at 16GB in the 1TB configuration).

And here’s something genuinely noteworthy: Samsung’s abandoned 128GB storage options entirely. The entry point across all models is now 256GB—a recognition that in 2026, 128GB simply isn’t adequate for apps, photos, videos, and the increasingly storage-hungry demands of AI processing.

UK Pricing (Official) 💷

• Galaxy S26 (256GB): £879
• Galaxy S26 (512GB): £1,029
• Galaxy S26 Plus (256GB): £1,029
• Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): £1,179
• Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB): £1,279
• Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): £1,449
• Galaxy S26 Ultra (1TB): £1,699

The Price Situation: Not Entirely Painless

Right, let’s address the elephant in the room: these phones are more expensive than their S25 predecessors. But the situation’s rather more nuanced than a simple “Samsung’s charging more” narrative.

The Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus have each received a £20 price increase compared to the equivalent 256GB S25 models. That represents roughly a 2-3% rise—modest, particularly given that RAM and storage component costs have doubled over the past year. For context, that’s below the UK’s current inflation rate.

The S26 Ultra, interestingly, holds the line. At £1,279 for the base 256GB model, it’s identically priced to the S25 Ultra launch price. This marks the second consecutive year Samsung hasn’t increased the Ultra’s pricing—a genuinely surprising decision given current market conditions.

But here’s where UK buyers catch a rather lovely break: if you pre-order before 10th March, you receive a free storage upgrade. Order the 256GB model, pay the 256GB price, receive the 512GB device. It’s Samsung’s way of cushioning that price increase whilst simultaneously clearing higher-storage inventory.

Vodafone’s offering the same deal, alongside trade-in savings of up to £914 on the S26 Ultra (or up to £886 on the S26 and S26 Plus) when trading in eligible devices. Samsung’s own store is offering trade-in rebates, 0% finance options, and exclusive colour variants (Silver Shadow and Pink Gold) available only through Samsung.com and Samsung Experience Stores.

Galaxy S26: The Compact One Grows Up

The standard Galaxy S26 represents Samsung’s entry point into flagship territory, and this year it’s matured considerably. The display has expanded from 6.2 inches to 6.3 inches—a modest bump that creates just enough space for a meaningful battery upgrade from 4,000mAh to 4,300mAh.

That M14 LTPO AMOLED panel supports adaptive 120Hz refresh rates and peaks at 2,600 nits brightness—comfortably readable in direct sunlight. The camera system retains the 50MP main sensor, 12MP ultra-wide, and 12MP telephoto (3x optical zoom) configuration, though Samsung’s implemented an AI-powered image signal processor (ISP) in the front-facing camera for more natural, realistic selfies.

New this year: Super Steady with Horizontal Lock, a video stabilisation feature that keeps footage level even if you rotate the phone a full 360 degrees. It’s the sort of feature that sounds gimmicky until you actually use it whilst filming your mate attempting to skateboard—then it becomes rather essential.

The thermal management system’s received attention too, with a redesigned vapour chamber spreading heat 29% more effectively than the S25. In practical terms, that means the phone should stay cooler during sustained gaming sessions or intensive camera use.

The Exynos Question ⚡

Here’s the controversial bit for UK buyers: the S26 and S26 Plus feature Samsung’s Exynos 2600 processor rather than the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Before you groan, understand that this Exynos generation represents a genuine technological leap—it’s Samsung’s first 2nm chip, built using cutting-edge GAA (Gate-All-Around) process technology.

Samsung claims substantial performance improvements: up to 39% CPU performance gain over the Exynos 2500, and GPU performance that’s allegedly 75% faster than Apple’s A19 Pro. Whether those claims hold up in real-world usage remains to be seen—comprehensive reviews will arrive once devices reach consumers on 11th March.

Galaxy S26 Plus: The Resurrected Middle Child

The Galaxy S26 Plus exists because the Galaxy S26 Edge doesn’t. That’s the short version.

Samsung reportedly scrapped plans for an ultra-thin Edge variant late in development after the S25 Edge’s weak sales performance. The Plus model was hastily revived to fill the gap—though “hastily” undersells what Samsung’s delivered here.

The S26 Plus features a 6.7-inch display with identical M14 AMOLED technology and 120Hz refresh rates as its smaller sibling. The battery capacity jumps to 4,900mAh—substantial enough for comfortably heavy all-day use. Like the standard S26, it’s powered by the Exynos 2600 in the UK market.

The camera configuration mirrors the S26: 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP telephoto. Charging speeds remain at 45W wired—respectable but hardly class-leading in 2026. The phone doesn’t feature Qi2 magnetic wireless charging despite earlier rumours suggesting it might.

Colour options span Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, and White as standard, with Silver Shadow and Pink Gold exclusive to Samsung’s own channels. The design language incorporates slightly more rounded corners compared to previous generations—a subtle ergonomic improvement that makes the substantial device more comfortable for extended one-handed use.

Galaxy S26 Ultra: The Privacy-Obsessed Flagship 🔒

If you want Samsung’s absolute best, the Ultra is where your attention should land. And this year, it’s bringing something genuinely innovative: the world’s first hardware-level Privacy Display on a smartphone.

Privacy Display: The Headline Feature

Samsung’s Privacy Display (also marketed as “Flex Magic Pixel”) uses AI-driven pixel manipulation to automatically narrow the viewing angle when sensitive apps are detected. Unlike traditional privacy screen protectors, this maintains optimal brightness and colour accuracy for you whilst making the screen appear darkened or blurred from side angles. It’s customisable, app-specific, and built directly into One UI 8.5.

Yesterday’s Unpacked presentation dedicated significant time to demonstrating this feature—and the practical applications are immediately obvious. Banking apps, medical records, private messages, work emails—all become genuinely difficult to shoulder-surf without making the display unusable for the primary user.

Display Excellence

The display itself is extraordinary beyond the privacy tech: a 6.9-inch M14 OLED panel capable of hitting over 3,000 nits peak brightness, using new organic materials that improve power efficiency whilst maintaining Samsung’s exceptional colour accuracy. Those slightly rounded corners everyone’s discussing? They’re not merely aesthetic—they genuinely improve one-handed ergonomics on this substantial device.

The Snapdragon Advantage

Here’s something crucial for UK buyers: the S26 Ultra features the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor globally—including in the UK and Europe. Samsung’s eliminated the regional chip lottery for its flagship, ensuring everyone receives the same performance regardless of geography.

Camera Powerhouse

The camera system remains formidable: a 200MP primary sensor, 50MP ultra-wide, 50MP periscope telephoto, and a 10MP telephoto lens. Samsung’s introduced what leaker Ice Universe described as a “24MP mode with no latency when pressing the shutter”—essentially enabling confident continuous shooting with near-instant processing. For photographers, that’s genuinely significant.

Battery capacity sits at 5,000mAh with charging speeds finally upgraded to 60W wired—up from the 45W that’s been standard for years. It’s not the 100W+ speeds some Chinese manufacturers offer, but it’s a meaningful improvement that should deliver noticeable real-world benefits.

Design Refinements

Design-wise, the Ultra’s reverted from titanium to an aluminium frame—the same move Apple made with the iPhone 17 Pro. Samsung hasn’t officially explained the decision, but the result is a device that’s dropped from 218 grams to 214 grams whilst maintaining Samsung’s Armour Aluminium durability. It’s also the thinnest Galaxy Ultra ever at just 7.9mm (down from 8.3mm).

The Chipset Conversation UK Buyers Need to Have

Right. We need to discuss the Exynos 2600 situation, because it matters—particularly if you’re considering the S26 or S26 Plus.

UK buyers receive Exynos 2600-powered S26 and S26 Plus models, whilst the US, China, and South Korea get Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 variants. The S26 Ultra, crucially, features Snapdragon globally—including in the UK.

Historically, Exynos chips have struggled compared to Snapdragon counterparts—particularly regarding thermal management, power efficiency, and sustained performance under load. It’s created a frustrating situation where identical phone models perform differently depending on which region purchased them.

The Exynos 2600 Promise

Samsung claims the Exynos 2600 changes this narrative entirely. Built on a cutting-edge 2nm GAA process, it features a 10-core CPU configuration using ARM’s latest v9.3 architecture: one prime C1-Ultra core at 3.8GHz, three high-performance C1-Pro cores at 3.25GHz, and six efficiency-focused C1-Pro cores at 2.75GHz.

The performance claims are bold:

• 39% CPU improvement over the Exynos 2500
• NPU performance that’s supposedly 6x faster than Apple’s A19 Pro
• GPU performance (courtesy of the new Xclipse 960 with AMD RDNA architecture) that’s allegedly 75% faster than the A19 Pro and 29% faster than Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Those are extraordinary claims. Early Geekbench results show the Exynos 2600-powered S26 Plus achieving single-core scores around 3,300 and multi-core around 10,500—respectable numbers that suggest competitiveness rather than disaster.

The Reality Check

But here’s the reality: comprehensive real-world testing won’t arrive until devices reach consumers on 11th March. Samsung’s implemented a new Heat Path Block (HPB) design specifically to address historical thermal issues, but whether it’s sufficient remains unproven.

For UK buyers, the calculus is straightforward: if you want guaranteed Snapdragon performance, buy the S26 Ultra. If you’re willing to trust Samsung’s claims about Exynos improvements (or simply prefer the smaller form factor or lower price), the S26 and S26 Plus represent reasonable choices—with the understanding that you’re accepting some degree of uncertainty about long-term performance.

What Wasn’t Announced (And Why It Matters)

Yesterday’s Unpacked concluded without any surprise product teases. No foldables. No AR glasses. No hints about Samsung’s rumoured tri-fold device.

Last year, Samsung used Unpacked to tease both the Galaxy S25 Edge and the Project Moohan headset (which became the Galaxy XR). This year? Nothing.

The absence speaks volumes. Samsung’s clearly positioning the S26 series to stand alone rather than sharing the spotlight with experimental hardware. Whether that reflects confidence in the S26 lineup’s commercial appeal or concerns about diluting the message with products that won’t ship for months remains unclear.

Alongside the S26 series, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro—wireless earbuds featuring improved audio clarity and refined designs. They’re competent products that address previous generations’ shortcomings, but they’re hardly revolutionary.

Should You Actually Pre-Order?

The eternal question. Let’s break it down practically.

If you’re on a Galaxy S25:

No. Absolutely not. The improvements aren’t remotely substantial enough to justify the upgrade cost and the hassle. Wait for the S27 at minimum.

If you’re on a Galaxy S24:

Probably not, unless specific features genuinely solve problems you’re experiencing. The Privacy Display might justify upgrading if you handle sensitive information regularly. Otherwise, your S24 remains perfectly capable.

If you’re on a Galaxy S23 or older:

Yes, this makes sense. You’ll notice genuine improvements in display quality (particularly the jump from 60Hz to 120Hz if you’re on a base S23), battery life, camera performance, and overall system responsiveness. The free storage upgrade sweetens the deal considerably.

If you’re switching from iPhone:

The S26 Ultra represents Samsung’s strongest proposition for iOS defectors. You receive Snapdragon performance globally, industry-leading display technology, versatile cameras, and that genuinely innovative Privacy Display. Just prepare yourself for Samsung’s occasionally overwhelming software customisation—One UI 8.5 is excellent, but it’s decidedly not iOS.

If you’re on another Android brand:

The S26 series competes favourably against Google’s Pixel 10 lineup and anything from OnePlus, Xiaomi, or other manufacturers. The Privacy Display alone represents technology nobody else is offering. Just be mindful of that Exynos situation if you’re considering the S26 or S26 Plus.

The Pre-Order Situation: Act Quickly ⏰

Pre-orders opened yesterday evening at 6pm GMT and will remain available until 10th March—the day before general retail launch. That gives you roughly two weeks to make your decision.

The Pre-Order Bonus That Actually Matters

All pre-orders placed before 10th March receive a free storage upgrade. Pay for 256GB, receive 512GB. This applies across all three models and represents genuine value—particularly on the S26 Ultra where the 512GB model normally costs £170 more than the 256GB version.

Samsung’s own store is offering trade-in rebates, 0% finance options spread across 24 months, and exclusive colours. Major UK networks—Vodafone, EE, O2, Three—have all launched their pre-order campaigns with varying trade-in deals and contract options.

Vodafone specifically is offering trade-in savings of up to £914 on the S26 Ultra with their Trade-In Guarantee—a guaranteed price quoted upfront with no surprises. They’re also bundling their Lifetime Service Promise (free battery health checks, replacements, and warranty) and offering access to their 5G Ultra network with Speed Boost for 2x faster speeds.

For unlocked buyers, Samsung’s direct offers probably represent the best value—particularly if you’re trading in and want to avoid being locked to a specific network. Currys, Argos, and Amazon UK will also stock the devices, though their pre-order bonuses typically lag behind Samsung’s own promotions.

What Happens on 11th March

General retail launch. Pre-order devices should arrive on or shortly before 11th March. Walk-in customers can purchase devices from Samsung Experience Stores, major networks, and high street retailers.

That’s also when comprehensive reviews will flood the tech press. Reviewers received devices yesterday after Unpacked, giving them roughly two weeks for thorough testing. By mid-March, you’ll have definitive answers about Exynos 2600 performance, battery life claims, camera quality, and whether that Privacy Display actually works as advertised in real-world conditions.

If you’re uncertain about pre-ordering, waiting until after launch reviews isn’t remotely unreasonable. You’ll lose the free storage upgrade, but you’ll gain certainty about what you’re actually buying—particularly regarding that Exynos chip.

The Broader Context: What Samsung’s Actually Doing Here

Step back from the specs and pricing for a moment. What’s Samsung’s strategy with the S26 series?

They’re consolidating. Three clear models with distinct purposes: affordable flagship (S26), larger affordable flagship (S26 Plus), and premium no-compromises option (S26 Ultra). No confusing Edge variants. No experimental form factors stealing attention. Just refined, focused products.

They’re innovating selectively. The Privacy Display isn’t gimmicky—it addresses genuine concerns about screen privacy in public spaces. The improved thermal management, enhanced AI processing, and refined designs represent meaningful rather than revolutionary improvements.

They’re playing the long game with Exynos. Samsung knows its in-house chips have reputation problems. The Exynos 2600’s 2nm process represents genuine technological achievement, but Samsung’s being conservative about deployment—limiting it to select regions whilst keeping the Ultra universally Snapdragon-powered.

Most importantly, they’re recognising that the smartphone market in 2026 isn’t about revolutionary leaps—it’s about refining what works and fixing what doesn’t. Privacy concerns? Addressed. Thermal management? Improved. Storage capacity? Increased as standard. These aren’t headline-grabbing changes, but they’re changes that improve daily experience.

The Final Word: Yesterday Changed Things

Pre-orders opened yesterday. The Galaxy S26 series is real, official, and available to order right now with delivery from 11th March.

For UK buyers, the situation’s remarkably favourable: pricing remains relatively stable despite global component cost increases, the free storage upgrade represents genuine value, and trade-in programmes offer substantial savings for those upgrading from older devices.

The Exynos 2600 represents the primary uncertainty for S26 and S26 Plus buyers. If Samsung’s claims prove accurate and the chip delivers competitive performance with adequate thermal management, these become genuinely compelling devices. If the chip disappoints—and Exynos historically has disappointed—you’ll wish you’d either waited for reviews or stretched budget for the Snapdragon-powered S26 Ultra.

The S26 Ultra, meanwhile, eliminates that uncertainty entirely whilst delivering that genuinely innovative Privacy Display and class-leading specifications. It’s expensive at £1,279, certainly—but with the free storage upgrade, you’re effectively getting the 512GB model for the 256GB price, which substantially improves the value proposition.

Yesterday, Samsung showed us what they believe flagship smartphones should be in 2026. Not revolutionary. Not experimental. Just exceptionally refined, thoughtfully improved, and—with that Privacy Display—occasionally genuinely innovative.

Pre-orders are open now. General launch arrives 11th March. The decision, as always, is yours.

Ready to Pre-Order Your Galaxy S26?

At TF2 Smartphone Solutions, we’re here to help you navigate the Galaxy S26 series launch. Want to discuss which model suits your needs? Interested in trade-in values? Looking for advice on whether upgrading makes sense from your current device?

Our expert team has the answers. Visit us, call us, or drop by—we’re here to ensure you make the right choice.

Don’t forget: pre-order before 10th March to receive that free storage upgrade. It’s genuinely significant value you won’t want to miss.

Sources:

• Samsung Newsroom (Galaxy Unpacked Official Livestream & Press Releases, 25 February 2026)
• Samsung UK Official Store (Pricing & Specifications, 26 February 2026)
• Tom’s Guide (Galaxy Unpacked 2026 Live Coverage, 25-26 February 2026)
• TechRadar (Galaxy S26 Launch Coverage, 25-26 February 2026)
• Android Central (Galaxy Unpacked Analysis, 25-26 February 2026)
• Tech Advisor (UK Pricing & Specifications Analysis, 26 February 2026)
• Engadget (Galaxy Unpacked Liveblog, 25 February 2026)
• What Hi-Fi? (Galaxy S26 Ultra Hands-On, 26 February 2026)
• Vodafone UK (Pre-Order Offers & Network Deals, 26 February 2026)
• Uswitch (Galaxy Unpacked Coverage, 24-25 February 2026)