Samsung Galaxy S26 Pre-Reservations Open Ahead of February 25 Launch

Samsung has officially set the date for its next Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25, 2026, where the AI-centric Galaxy S26 series will debut, with pre-reservations now live in India for a refundable fee of ₹999.

12/02/2026/9:49:am

Key Highlights of the Galaxy S26 Launch

Unpacked Date: February 25, 2026, at 11:30 PM IST (10:00 AM PT), livestreamed via YouTube and Samsung’s official newsroom.
Pre-Reservation Offer: Pay ₹999 for a “VIP Pass” to secure benefits worth ₹2,699, plus a chance to win a ₹50,000 giveaway.
Revolutionary Display: The Ultra model is rumored to feature a hardware-level “Privacy Display” that masks content from side-viewers.
Next-Gen Power: Expected to house the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (Global/Ultra) and Exynos 2600 (select regions).
AI Evolution: Deep integration of Galaxy AI to automate daily tasks, multitasking, and advanced photo editing.

Samsung has confirmed that San Francisco will host the next major Unpacked event on February 25, 2026. The theme for this year revolves around “seamless integration,” where Galaxy AI moves beyond experimental features to become the core of the user experience. According to official teasers, the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra are engineered to remove friction from daily interactions, making common tasks like calling and messaging more intuitive through adaptive intelligence.

In India, the event will be broadcast late at night on February 25. Enthusiasts can already secure their spot in line by purchasing a pre-reserve VIP Pass for ₹999 on the Samsung India website, Amazon, or Flipkart. This amount is fully refundable and acts as a voucher towards the final purchase, unlocking exclusive color options and accessory discounts.

Hardware Breakthroughs: Privacy and Performance

The most anticipated hardware update is the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display. Unlike software-based filters, this is expected to be a hardware-software hybrid integrated directly into the OLED panel. This technology allows users to restrict viewing angles on demand, effectively turning the screen black for anyone not looking at it head-on, a perfect solution for commuters using banking apps or reading private messages in public spaces.

Under the hood, the series will likely leverage the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, built on a cutting-edge 2nm or 3nm process. This processor is designed specifically to handle the heavy computational demands of on-device AI without sacrificing battery life.

WhatsApp to Introduce Premium Customization

In related tech news, recent leaks from the WhatsApp beta (version 2.26.6.1) suggest a major visual overhaul is coming to the messaging giant. For the first time, users may be able to move away from the classic green branding.

19 New Theme Colors: Users can choose from colors like Royal Blue, Violet, and Gold.
14 Custom Icons: New app icon styles including “Aurora,” “Galaxy,” and “Neon” are in development.
Premium Tier: These features are expected to be part of a new, optional monthly subscription plan, while core messaging remains free for all users.

Pricing and Availability

While official prices will be revealed at the Unpacked event, industry analysts expect Samsung to maintain the price structure of the S25 series to remain competitive.