Rumors Rated is where we assess the biggest, most interesting and sometimes bizarre rumors and claimed leaks around the upcoming tech and predicted products. We draw upon a wealth of technology experience to assess and rate which rumors and information tidbits are worth your time and attention and those that are a bit too far-fetched. If you have any tips or insider information, feel free to contact us.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 series is likely to be the first major flagship phone launch of the year, with these phones expected to land in late February.
As usual with Samsung flagships, there’s a lot of hype – and that means there have also been a lot of leaks and rumors, but some of the things we’ve heard sound a lot more likely than others.
So below, I’ve detailed and rated the seven biggest Samsung Galaxy S26 series rumors, assessing how likely I think they are to be correct.
1. A privacy display
One of the more intriguing possible additions we’ve heard about is that the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra might have a ‘Privacy Display’. This would essentially work like a privacy screen protector, making it hard to see what’s on the screen unless viewed front-on, so people around you can’t see what you’re looking at.
This feature has been leaked multiple times and it could be a great way for the Galaxy S26 Ultra to stand out from rival phones, as it’s a bit unusual.
Being so unusual I’d usually take this sort of thing with a pinch of salt, but in fact Samsung has already shown off a technology capable of this, and while the company hasn’t officially confirmed that it’s coming to the Galaxy S26 series, 9to5Google spotted a Privacy Display toggle in a screenshot shared by Samsung itself, so I’m now almost certain this will be coming to at least some S26 models – with the S26 Ultra being the most likely.
- Likelihood: 9/10
2. A higher price
There have been conflicting reports on whether the Samsung Galaxy S26 series will cost more than the Galaxy S25 line, so it’s hard to be sure based on the leaks and rumors so far.
However, given that memory prices are soaring it’s hard to imagine that a price rise would be avoided. But the good news at least is that most leaks that point to a price rise suggest it won’t be a very substantial one – so you likely will have to pay more, but hopefully not too much more.
- Likelihood: 7/10
3. A Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset for every model
We’ve also heard conflicting reports on what chipset the Samsung Galaxy S26 series will use. Some say we’ll get the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while others suggest a mix of that and Exynos 2600 units will be used.
It’s likely – based both on leaks and past form – that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will have a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, but there’s more of a question mark over the other models, especially as Samsung often uses a mix of Snapdragon and Exynos.
However, recent leaks suggest that only South Korean models will get an Exynos chipset, with Snapdragon used everywhere else for every S26 model. So with this being a more recent claim than other leaks – and it fitting with Samsung’s approach to the S25, I’m guessing that’s probably what will happen.
Either way though, these are both top-end chipsets, so you should get great performance regardless.
- Likelihood: 6/10
4. Magnetic wireless charging
There have been numerous signs that the Samsung Galaxy S26 series might support magnetic wireless charging, a bit like the MagSafe system on iPhones.
This includes leaks around various magnetic accessories that could be offered for the phones and a diagram that appears to show a magnetic ring on the back of the Galaxy S26.
While there are enough leaks now that we’re fairly sure some magnetic accessories will be sold, it’s possible that these will require the S26 to be in a case with magnets rather than it having magnets of its own, much like accessories you’ll find for the Samsung Galaxy S25.
So it’s slightly less clear whether the phones themselves will have magnets, but several sources have suggested they will, so I’m cautiously optimistic.
- Likelihood: 7/10
5. A variable camera aperture
Among the more unlikely leaks is a claim that the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could have a variable aperture for its main camera.
This would mean you could choose between a wider aperture to let more light hit the sensor in dim conditions or to create a blurred background, and a narrow aperture for sharper images in bright light.
It would be a nice – if niche – feature, and it’s actually one Samsung tried before with the Galaxy S9. But as we’ve only heard this from one tipster – and as they haven’t reiterated the claim since first making it almost a year ago – I doubt this is something we’ll see.
- Likelihood: 3/10
6. Bigger batteries
While the Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus will probably have the same capacity battery as its predecessor, both the base Galaxy S26 and the Galaxy S26 Ultra could be in for a boost.
Specifically, leaks suggest the Samsung Galaxy S26 might have a 4,300mAh battery (up from 4,000mAh in the Galaxy S25), and the Galaxy S26 Ultra could have either a 5,200mAh or 5,400mAh battery – which would be up from 5,000mAh in the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
That said, some sources disagree about the Ultra’s battery, saying that actually it won’t be changing. So of the three phones it looks most likely that the base model will get a battery boost, but the Ultra may well do so as well.
- Likelihood: 8/10 that one model will have a bigger battery, 5/10 that two will
7. 60W charging for the Ultra
Several sources have suggested that the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra might have higher power charging than its 45W predecessor, with reputable leaker @UniverseIce in particular pushing this claim.
They say to expect 60W charging, which while still far lower power than, for example, the 120W OnePlus 15, should make a noticeable difference to charging speeds.
With multiple sources having said to expect higher power charging and with at least one of them having reiterated the claim multiple times, I’d think this is a very likely inclusion.
- Likelihood: 8/10
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