Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely
Ewan Spence
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely is coming. As the times cross, the consensus has been constructing round the important thing dates of the launch occasion, the pre-order window, and the retail launch. This week, famous smartphone commentator Ice Universe snapped the Galaxy S26 date debate into focus, with dates backed up by a number of publications.
But there are extra essential dates for the launch of the Galaxy S26 household, they usually aren’t below Samsung’s management. Let’s have a look at the dates Samsung has selected and that are left to its rivals.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely Launch
Samsung will launch its acquainted triumvirate of Galaxy S smartphones at a Galaxy Unpacked occasion on Feb. 25. The Galaxy S26 Extremely would be the flagship machine and one of many highest-specced smartphones launched in 2026.
Additionally showing would be the Galaxy S26+ and the Galaxy 26. Many anticipated Samsung to shake up the lineup with a Samsung Galaxy S26 Professional and a Galaxy S26 Edge alongside the S26 Extremely.
The previous could be the entry-level Galaxy S with improved specs (primarily the digicam). This may have necessitated a value rise past the S25’s sticker value of $799. The success of the iPhone 17, the vanilla iPhone additionally priced at $799, has pushed Samsung in the direction of a price-focused product to remain within the sport relatively than lifting the specs to supply extra standing to the primary telephone.
The latter would have been a skinny telephone, a well-liked trend assertion in 2025, however a type issue that has not discovered retail success. The poor gross sales of the S25 Edge revealed low sustained demand that might probably have been even decrease for an iterative second launch.
With that, Samsung rolled again to the acquainted Galaxy S line-up, regardless that this required delaying launch dates by simply over a month to permit the brand new designs to be readied and manufacturing to succeed in appropriate pre-launch ranges.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely Pre-Orders
Whereas there could also be a temptation to open up pre-orders because the keynote shows finish (a route that Samsung and others have taken in earlier years), for 2026, Samsung has moved to a “pre-orders open tomorrow” method for the primary Galaxy Unpacked of the 12 months.
Which means you’ll be capable to put your title down for one of many Galaxy S26 handsets from Thursday, Feb. 26.
There may be one wrinkle right here: Ice Universe notes that their dates are for the South Korean market and provides a pre-order window from Feb. 26 to March 4, adopted by a pre-sale window from March 5 to March 10. Whether or not that is one thing distinctive to the territory or might be one thing mirrored worldwide stays, for now, a query to be answered.
Samsung has been beneficiant with pre-order provides up to now. If this carries over to the Galaxy S26 household, you’ll be able to count on boosted trade-in values and assured minimums for any telephone handed in alongside a Galaxy buy. Little question Samsung may have some unique colorways solely accessible by way of its on-line retailer (the classically black Titanium Jetblack Galaxy S25 was one of many exclusives final 12 months). I’d additionally count on Samsung to have a partnership with Google to supply a free subscription to the Google AI Professional bundle, with doubtlessly a 12 months of entry to the Galaxy S26 Extremely, matching that of the Pixel 10 Professional
Whether or not Samsung will proceed to supply its “double storage” supply (the place shopping for the 12 GB mannequin will get you the 256 GB mannequin, the 256 GB mannequin will get you 512 GB, and the 512 GB mannequin will get you 1 TB) is maybe the important thing query across the pre-orders. With the rising costs of storage and reminiscence, this can be a bigger hit on the invoice of supplies than in earlier years, relying on how a lot Samsung has hedged on silicon.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely Retail Availability
After which we have now the on-sale date for the retail market (and transport pre-orders) on Wednesday, 11. At first look, an uncommon day to decide on, given Samsung’s conventional choice for Friday. As famous beforehand, that might have been Friday the thirteenth, a date with sufficient superstitious overtones that Samsung has determined to keep away from.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely And The Competitors
There are different dates that may affect the launch of the Galaxy S26 household. Whereas these will not be below Samsung’s management, they will actually affect the story that Samsung is attempting to inform with its new {hardware} and software program. The household might stand out in comparison with the competitors’s strikes, or its imaginative and prescient may very well be weakened when contrasted with one other producer’s.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely Vs. MWC
The primary date is among the largest. Cell World Congress takes place in Barcelona over 4 days, beginning March 2. The overwhelming majority of smartphone producers, accent firms, software program builders, and the remainder of the trade might be represented. There might be a flood of tales on all fronts of the smartphone world, with the usage of synthetic intelligence probably one of many hottest subjects alongside new telephones being launched, previewed, or within the late phases of design.
By launching forward of the occasion, Samsung has an opportunity to set the tone for what a premium smartphone must be and to debate how Galaxy AI delivers one of the best AI expertise on cell. If these are offered strongly at Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung would be the marker for everybody to chase and examine themselves to. If the story is weak or one other firm introduces a disruptive product, Samsung might shortly look outdated.
It’s an identical story with {hardware}. The Galaxy S26 household, particularly the Galaxy S26 Extremely, look to be iterative updates when it comes to specs and {hardware} selections. MWC will showcase some superior designs within the smartphone area. Whereas a few of them could also be little greater than ideas, others would be the equal of critically acclaimed supercars, destined for a really excessive price ticket and restricted business success, whereas making a halo impact for the producer’s commonplace headsets.
The Galaxy S26 household might shortly look misplaced and depend on final 12 months’s know-how earlier than it reaches retail cabinets within the week after MWC.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely Vs. Pixel 9a
Two handsets are going to bracket the Galaxy S26 household, and particularly the Galaxy S26.
The primary might be Google’s Pixel 10a. That is the mid-range variant of the Pixel 10 household. The Pixel 10, 10 Professional, 10 Professional XL, and 10 Professional Fold had been launched in autumn 2025 and as soon as once more set the tone for what Google believes an AI-first smartphone ought to symbolize. The Pixel 10a will proceed that dialog at a value that would undercut the Samsung Galaxy S26 by $250.
There’s no confirmed date for the launch, however discussions on-line counsel a Feb 18 launch and a retail sale on March 5, giving it a time benefit over Samsung’s entry-level S26.
Google is anticipated to spec the Pixel 10a nearer to final 12 months’s Pixel 9a than the Pixel 10, together with staying on a year-old processor. However, the Pixel 9a was very effectively obtained final 12 months, and a brand new Pixel that provides the newest AI options at a lower cost might be a problem to Samsung on the decrease finish of the portfolio.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely Vs. iPhone 17e
Additionally ready within the wings is Apple’s iPhone 17e. This may be the sequel to final 12 months’s iPhone 16e, which noticed Apple transfer away from the iPhone SE in the direction of a numbered iPhone launch. The iPhone 16e value was bumped as much as $599 (from the iPhone SE’s remaining value of $429) and comes with all the advantages and disadvantages of being an Apple machine.
Apple’s $799 iPhone 17 has already impacted the Galaxy S26 vary. The launch of the iPhone 17e would supply a near-direct problem to the Galaxy S26, once more undercutting the worth. It’s extra prone to act as a brake to these wanting to change away from iOS to Android (right here’s a brand new iPhone only for you).
As for the launch date, once more, there’s no affirmation from Apple, and the window is far bigger than the Pixel 10a. Final 12 months, the iPhone 16e was launched (by press launch) on February 19. But Apple can be anticipated to launch the ultimate main launch of iOS 26 (together with an up to date Siri) in late-March, and the iPhone 17e might wait till then.
Personally, I feel a date just like 2025 is probably going, and I’d issue within the tempo of an annual contract with networks. If the iPhone 16e is popping out of contract and customers are searching for what’s subsequent, the iPhone 17e could be a simple promote.
Assuming Taniyama-Shimura, let’s pencil in Feb. 18 for the iPhone 17e to launch; a date that may power a head-to-head with the Pixel 10a and put Samsung on the again foot the next week at Galaxy Unpacked.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely’s Market Dominance
Samsung had a world market share of 19.1 p.c in 2025, and the Galaxy S25 typically and the Galaxy S25 Extremely performed a big half in that. The S25 Extremely made up 52 p.c of the preliminary orders, doubling the gross sales of the Galaxy S24 Extremely. The South Korean firm might be hoping for a similar response with the Galaxy S26 household and the Galaxy 26 Extremely.
But the market has modified within the final 12 months, and Samsung is launching the S26 into a way more aggressive market than the S25. Will the iterative updates be sufficient? Will customers search higher worth for cash and switch to Apple and Google, or will they search cutting-edge designs and new concepts from the likes of Xiaomi and Oppo? Will Samsung nonetheless be seen because the chief on this area earlier than, throughout and after MWC?
There’s one remaining date to think about: Jan 29, 2026. That’s the date of Samsung’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings name, and I count on some ahead projections to come back out of it… projections that may centre on the Galaxy S26 Extremely. What does Samsung count on to occur, and when?
