Samsung has officially announced the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event, where they will unveil the highly anticipated Galaxy S26. The event is set to take place on 25 February in San Francisco, and Samsung has provided some key details regarding the price rise, pre-order date, and release date of the new device.
One significant piece of information revealed by Samsung is the price increase for the Galaxy S26. The company is offering a promotional deal where customers can get a higher storage capacity for the price of the one below, specifically 512GB for the price of 256GB. This deal is said to save customers £170 in 2026. This price rise is expected to apply to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, as indicated by the pricing strategy for previous models.
Interestingly, the US pre-registration page does not display the same storage upgrade offer, but it is likely that a similar price increase will be implemented in the US market. The global shortage of memory components in the industry has been driving prices up, leading to the anticipated price rise for the Galaxy S26.
In terms of the pre-order date, Samsung has not explicitly mentioned the Galaxy S26 by name, but references to “our new AI phone” suggest that this is the device that will be unveiled at the event. The FAQ section on Samsung’s website confirms that the new Galaxy phones and Galaxy Buds will be available for pre-order on the same day as the event, 25 February, starting at 6pm UK time.
Additionally, Samsung has teased some key features of the new Galaxy smartphones, highlighting hardware innovation and optimized software that will make them the most impressive smartphones yet. The company also hints at a new phase in the era of AI, with intelligence becoming more personal and adaptive.
As for the release date, Samsung is offering discounts on the Samsung ecosystem and a chance to win a voucher worth £500 or $5,000 for customers who pre-order the Galaxy S26. The registration deals are available until 10 March, hinting at a possible release date of 11 March for the new devices.
Overall, the Galaxy Unpacked event promises to showcase the next generation of Samsung’s flagship smartphones, with innovative features and advancements in AI technology. Customers can look forward to an enhanced user experience and cutting-edge technology when the Galaxy S26 is officially released.

