Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra key details leak before official launch

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is going to be the next big flagship by Samsung. Here's what recent leaks say.

2025 is almost over, and most premium flagships have already launched. This sets the stage for the Galaxy S26 Ultra launch early next year. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to be Samsung’s next big flagship and, ahead of the launch, it has reportedly been spotted on the FCC certification website, listed under various model numbers for both Indian and international markets. The certification also confirms several rumoured details about the phone, which suggests that it could pack powerful hardware. Here’s what to expect from the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra ahead of its launch

Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to be powered by the latest Snapdragon chipset

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 5G design and colour options leaked ahead of launch. (x)

By Shaurya Sharma

Shaurya Sharma is the Technology Editor at Hindustan Times Digital Streams, where he oversees technology coverage across digital and social platforms. With over eight years of experience across editorial, video production, and digital media, his work focuses on smartphones, AI, consumer gadgets, and shaping audience-first content strategies for modern tech consumers.

He began his career in 2018 as a fashion cinematographer before turning his lifelong passion for technology into a profession. From spending his childhood immersed in tech magazines, video games, and the latest gadgets to covering the global consumer tech industry today, technology has remained a constant throughout his journey.

Over the years, Shaurya has worked with some of India’s leading media organisations, including CNN-News18, Sportskeeda, and Guiding Tech, where he led video initiatives that combined strong editorial storytelling with engaging visual and social-first execution.

A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Manipal University, Shaurya has reviewed hundreds of products across categories including smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles, cameras, and wearables. Beyond work, he is passionate about animal welfare, environmental causes, and automobiles, particularly turbo-petrol cars

Read moreRead less

You may be interested in

Oppo Find X9 Pro 5G

• Titanium Charcoal
• 16GB RAM
• 512GB Storage

₹1,09,999

Get This

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus

• 12GB RAM
• 256GB Storage
• 6.6-inch Display Size

₹99,990

Check Details

9% OFF

Vivo X300 5G

• 16GB RAM
• 512GB Storage
• 6.78 inch Display Size

₹85,999

₹93,999

Get This

Samsung Galaxy S26

• 12GB RAM
• 256GB Storage
• 6.6 inch Display Size

₹79,990

Check Details

5% OFF

OnePlus 15

• Sand Dune (Light Titanium)
• 12GB/16GB RAM
• 256GB/512GB/1TB Storage

₹72,999

₹76,999

Get This

Find more mobiles

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is likely to run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which is Qualcomm’s current flagship processor and is also expected to power rivals such as the OnePlus 15, the iQOO 15, the Realme GT 8 Pro, and others.

The phone has been spotted under multiple model numbers, including SM-S948B/DS, SM-S948B, SM-S948U, and SM-S94U1. Reports suggest that the B models will be meant for India and other international markets, while the U models could be limited to the United States.

Slightly reworked design

Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to retain a design language similar to previous models. However, new renders spotted by Android Authority reveal that Samsung could be abandoning its signature floating camera rings. Instead, all three models in the S26 line-up, the S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra, could feature a pill-shaped camera island, with the lenses sitting inside it.

This design is reminiscent of the camera module seen on Samsung’s Fold series. This would be a minor design change, but it could mark a departure from the design language followed since the S22 line-up.

Other major changes could include an even more rounded design for the S26 Ultra compared to the S25 Ultra, bringing it closer in appearance to the regular S26 models. Apart from this, the phone is expected to continue sporting a quad-camera setup. However, it remains to be seen what camera upgrades Samsung will bring to the table.