Samsung still hasn’t said the words “Galaxy S26” on stage, but as of December 7, 2025, the company’s own software has done the talking for it.
A wave of leaks from One UI 8.5 test firmware, newly published reports, and updated launch rumors paint the clearest picture yet of the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra — including their redesigned camera module, Qi2 magnets, faster charging, and deep Galaxy AI integration. [1]
Below is a breakdown of what’s new today and how it connects to earlier coverage from outlets like Forbes, GSMArena, and Android Authority.
Samsung just leaked its own Galaxy S26 design
The most important development this week: Samsung officially leaked its own phones.
Developers digging through an internal One UI 8.5 build found 2D device illustrations labeled M1, M2, and M3, corresponding to the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra. These sketches are embedded directly in Samsung’s system code, making them the closest thing we have to “official” renders right now. [2]
Multiple publications, including Android Authority, SamMobile, Android Central, NotebookCheck, Indian Express and Gizmochina, all confirm the same basic story:
- The three models share a pill‑shaped camera island with circular cut‑outs, very similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 7camera design. [3]
- The Ultra model keeps three vertically stacked cameras in the island, plus two extra sensors off to the side, matching earlier CAD leaks. [4]
- Internal codenames M1, M2 and M3 sit under Samsung’s broader “Miracle” project for the S26 family. [5]
This is a subtle but meaningful change: for several generations, the base/Plus models and the Ultra had visibly different camera layouts. The S26 series appears to unify the Galaxy S design language around a single “Fold‑style” camera island across the board. [6]
Rounder Ultra, boxier base models: how the S26 will look in your hand
Digging into the latest renders and firmware‑derived assets, we can sketch out how the new phones will feel:
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Gains more rounded corners than the S25 Ultra, moving away from the super‑boxy “Note” silhouette and closer to the regular S models. [7]
- Keeps a large rectangular footprint and separate lenses inside the island, plus two external sensors that are likely for extra telephoto and depth/laser AF.
- Galaxy S26 & S26+
Indian Express frames this as a refinement rather than a revolution: Samsung appears to be aligning its S‑series styling with the Z Fold 7, creating a more cohesive visual identity across its top‑end phones. [10]
Qi2 magnets and “Super Fast” charging: the overdue power upgrade
One of the biggest new pieces of information dated to December 6–7 is buried in firmware clues and accessory leaks: Qi2 and faster charging look almost certain.
- NotebookCheck reports that renders and a new magnetic power bank indicate the whole S26 lineup will ship with integrated magnets and full Qi2 support, meaning MagSafe‑style snap‑on accessories without needing a special case. [11]
- Android Authority’s APK teardown of One UI 8.5 references “Super Fast Wireless Charging” and “Super Fast Charging 3.0”, strongly suggesting a jump beyond today’s 15W wireless and existing wired modes. [12]
- Android Central, echoing other recent leaks, says the S26 family is expected to support up to 60W wired charging and around 25W wireless on some models — a major, if still rumor‑class, boost over the Galaxy S25’s capabilities. [13]
For users, this combination of Qi2 magnets + faster wireless and wired charging could be one of the most practical upgrades in years: easier alignment on chargers, faster top‑ups, and a healthier ecosystem of magnetic stands, wallets and battery packs that work without clunky third‑party rings.
One UI 8.5: what the next Galaxy AI platform actually adds
The other major storyline behind today’s news is software. The Galaxy S26 series is expected to be the first phones to launch with One UI 8.5 on top of Android 16, and a near‑complete changelog for the update has now leaked. [14]
From reports by Digital Trends, Tom’s Guide, Indian Express and others, here’s what One UI 8.5 looks set to bring — and what the S26 should ship with out of the box:
Bigger Galaxy AI focus
- A new “continuous image generation” mode in the Gallery’s AI tools lets you keep refining an AI‑generated image through multiple steps, then pick your favorite from the whole history instead of saving each iteration separately. [15]
- Samsung’s Bixby assistant is tipped to get more natural language understanding and faster, more direct responses, making it less fussy about exact phrasing. [16]
- Indian Express adds that Galaxy AI features will expand across the UI, with better contextual suggestions and more intelligent widgets on the home and lock screens. [17]
Everyday apps and UX tweaks
- Samsung Health gains richer weekly reports, better sharing and tighter watch integration, including more hands‑free workout and mindfulness features. [18]
- The Weather widget is getting precipitation graphs and pollen index data, making it more useful at a glance. [19]
- Expect smoother animations, improved multitasking, stronger continuity between phones, tablets and wearables, and deeper customization for lock screens and notification panels. [20]
Rollout timing
- Multiple leaks suggest the One UI 8.5 beta will open for the Galaxy S25 series as early as December 8, 2025 in key markets like the US, UK, Korea and Germany, with more markets later in December. [21]
- The Galaxy S26 family will be the first phones to ship with One UI 8.5 pre‑installed, effectively making it the “launch vehicle” for Samsung’s 2026 AI and UX story. [22]
This software layer is also what ties into Forbes’ coverage: columnist Ewan Spence has framed Samsung’s 2026 Galaxy Unpacked as the moment the company has to prove that Galaxy AI — introduced at Unpacked 2024 with features like Circle to Search — is more than a buzzword. [23]
Chips: Exynos 2600 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Another hot topic this weekend is which processor goes where.
A fresh TechRadar report, citing Korean outlet IT Home, says Samsung is currently planning a split chipset strategy: [24]
- Exynos 2600 in South Korea only
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in most global markets
This aligns with earlier pieces from 9to5Google and SammyGuru, which describe Samsung as being much more cautious with Exynos this cycle — especially after the S25 lineup skipped Exynos entirely. [25]
At the same time, the Korean‑sourced reporting covered by SammyGuru indicates:
- Samsung is still very bullish on Exynos 2600, with executives talking up its performance on earnings calls.
- Internal expectations suggest Exynos 2600 trails Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 by only a small margin in early benchmarks. [26]
In other words, the regional silicon story isn’t settled:
- Europe and North America may once again see an all‑Snapdragon S26 lineup.
- Korea may get Exynos‑powered variants across some or all S26 models.
- Later leaks could still shift that balance, as they did several times across 2025.
For buyers, what matters most is that all credible rumors still point to flagship‑tier performance and heavy AI acceleration, whichever chip you get. [27]
When will Samsung launch the Galaxy S26?
This is where things connect most directly to the Forbes piece you referenced, even if that article itself sits behind a paywall.
Across November and early December, several outlets have converged on roughly the same launch window:
- Galaxy Unpacked 2026 is now widely rumored for February 25, 2026 in San Francisco, according to Korean media cited by SammyGuru and echoed in other coverage. [28]
- 9to5Google’s launch‑timeline reporting suggests Samsung has walked back earlier plans to push S26 into March, returning closer to its traditional late‑February flagship slot. [29]
- Tom’s Guide still describes early 2026 as the expected window, with a launch event near the end of January or in February followed by retail availability about two weeks later — which neatly lines up with the February 25 Unpacked rumor. [30]
Forbes’ latest column from Ewan Spence appears to build on this Korean reporting, tying the later‑than‑usual Galaxy S26 launch to Samsung’s desire to spotlight Galaxy AI, One UI 8.5 and its broader AI hardware ecosystem on a big stage in the heart of Silicon Valley. While we can’t see his whole article, that broad framing matches what other outlets are also suggesting. [31]
What all of this means if you’re deciding whether to wait
Putting all the December 7 news together, the picture looks like this:
- Design: Expect a Fold‑style camera island on all three models, a more rounded Ultra, and slightly squarer S26/S26+ – a unification of the Galaxy S look rather than an overhaul. [32]
- Charging & hardware: Rumors and firmware hints strongly suggest Qi2 magnets, faster wireless charging, and potentially 60W‑class wired speeds, plus upgraded telephoto hardware on the Ultra. [33]
- Software: The S26 series should launch with One UI 8.5 on Android 16, featuring expanded Galaxy AI tools, more flexible Bixby, health and widget upgrades, and a visually refreshed interface. [34]
- Performance: Whether you get Exynos 2600 or Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, expectations point to top‑tier performance and strong on‑device AI capabilities. [35]
- Timing: Current leaks put Galaxy Unpacked around February 25, 2026, meaning real devices should land in stores early March if Samsung follows its usual two‑week rollout pattern. [36]
If you’re holding a Galaxy S24 or older, the combination of Qi2, faster charging, unified design, and much richer AI features makes the Galaxy S26 family look like a much more substantial upgrade than some earlier “S‑year” refreshes — especially once One UI 8.5 matures on the S25 series over the next few months.
If you already own a Galaxy S25, the value of upgrading will likely depend on:
- How important Qi2 and faster charging are to you
- Whether the new 3x telephoto and charging upgrades on the Ultra are must‑haves
- And how aggressively Samsung prices the S26 family compared with its current flagships [37]
Either way, December 7, 2025 is the moment when Galaxy S26 stopped being just a rumor mill project name and started to look like a nearly finished product — thanks, ironically, to Samsung’s own software.
References
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