Summary
- Galaxy S26 and S26+ renders and specifications have leaked, confirming rumoured design changes.
- The Galaxy S26 could get an upgraded 4,300mAh battery while S26+ could stick to 4,900mAh cell.
- Galaxy S26 and S26+ are expected to run on Exynos 2600 in Europe with One UI 8.5 based on Android 16.
The countdown to Samsung's next major Unpacked event has begun and renders of all Galaxy S26 series are surfacing. After the Galaxy S26 Ultra renders leaked, official-looking images of the Galaxy S26 and S26+ have also leaked in all their glory, confirming the design refinements and significant internal upgrades.
Samsung Galaxy S26, S26+ Design Leaked in Renders
The new renders arrive courtesy of Android Headlines, where we can see both the smartphones in their black colourways. As previous leaks suggested, the only visual difference between the Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26+ and their predecessors is that the cameras are now on a vertical camera island instead of being their own separate lenses. However, the rest of the slab aesthetic remains the same, with flat displays.
Image Credit: Android Headlines
Image Credit: Android Headlines
Under the metal and glass, both Samsung phones share the same brain. The leak suggests European units could run on Exynos 2600, although we previously learned Exynos 2600 may be Korea-exclusive, while global markets will likely see the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Besides, both are expected to boast identical optics with a 50 MP main camera, 12 MP ultrawide and 10 MP telephoto.
The telephoto was supposed to receive an upgrade this year, but Samsung reportedly skimped on the rumoured Galaxy S26 camera upgrades to keep the prices low amidst the global RAM crisis. Weirdly, despite that, the recent reports suggest the base Galaxy S26 could get expensive.
The main difference between the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ will lie in their size, with the Galaxy S26 packing a compact 6.3-inch display and form factor. The Galaxy S26+ is expected to boast a 6.7-inch display. The standard model could also get a small boost in battery life with a larger 4,300mAh cell, whereas the S26+ could retain the 4,900mAh battery.
Both smartphones are expected to debut with One UI 8.5 based on Android 16 out of the box. Lastly, Samsung's Privacy Display feature could help protect user privacy by darkening the screen when looked at from an angle, which could be especially useful when commuting. Although we're not sure if this feature will arrive across all the Galaxy S26 models.
More information about the standard Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ models should be revealed as we inch closer to the launch. For those unaware, a recent Galaxy S26 launch date leak points to a February 25, 2026 launch, so stay tuned.
Source
Android Headlines
