Samsung Galaxy Unpacked is done—Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra are official as of February 25, 2026! The series brings slimmer designs, Cobalt Violet hero color, major camera upgrades (200MP main on Ultra with better zoom/low-light video), Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 power, advanced Galaxy AI, and Android 16/One UI 8.5 out of the box.
In India, pre-orders are live on Samsung.com, Flipkart, Amazon, and offline stores. Early reactions are strong on cameras and AI, but battery life (still 5000mAh on Ultra) and pricing are hot debate points. Here’s the quick roundup, deals, and comparisons to help you decide.
Key Specs Recap (Official)
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED (2600 nits, Privacy Display), Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (or Exynos 2600 in some India units), 200MP main + 50MP ultrawide + dual telephoto (3x + 5x), 5000mAh battery, 60W wired/25W wireless, S Pen, 7+ years updates.
- S26/S26+: Smaller displays (6.3–6.7-inch), similar chip/camera upgrades (50MP+ main), same AI focus.
- Colors: Cobalt Violet stands out; others include Black, Sky Blue, White.
India Pricing & Best Deals Right Now
- Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB base): Official ~₹1,29,999–₹1,39,999 (leaks vary; effective lower with offers).
- S26+: ~₹99,999–₹1,09,999.
- S26: ~₹79,999–₹89,999.
Current deals (as of Feb 26–early March):
- Flipkart/Amazon: Up to ₹15,000–₹20,000 instant bank discount (HDFC/ICICI), no-cost EMI, exchange bonus up to ₹25,000+.
- Samsung.com: Extra ₹10,000 trade-in + bundled Buds3/Watch7 offers.
- Offline: Reliance Digital/Croma often match + extended warranty.
Effective price for Ultra could drop to ~₹1,05,000–₹1,15,000 with max offers—watch for flash sales.
Early Reactions from India Users/Reviewers
- Loved: Cameras (zoom and night video noticeably better), slimmer/lighter feel, Privacy Display (great for public use), Galaxy AI tools (photo editing, agents feel more practical).
- Mixed: Battery no bigger (efficiency helps, but heavy users miss 6000mAh+ from rivals), price feels premium vs iQOO/Vivo mid-rangers.
- Verdict so far: “Best Android flagship right now” for power users; “wait for deals” for value seekers.
Quick Comparisons (India Focus)
- vs iQOO 15R (~₹45k–₹55k): iQOO wins on battery (7600mAh + 100W), gaming (better cooling/144Hz), price. S26 Ultra crushes on cameras, display quality, AI/software support, build. Pick iQOO for gaming/value; Ultra for everything else.
- vs Vivo V70 Elite (~₹45k–₹55k): Vivo edges on battery (6500mAh + 90W) and ZEISS cameras (portraits/night). S26 Ultra better overall performance, zoom/video, long updates. Vivo for camera lovers on budget; Ultra for premium.
- vs Pixel 10a (pre-orders Feb 18, ~₹40k–₹55k): Pixel wins pure software/AI (Gemini), clean Android, photos. S26 Ultra better hardware (display, zoom, battery efficiency). Pixel for simplicity; Ultra for power.
Should You Buy Now?
- Yes if you want the latest flagship cameras/AI/S Pen and can grab deals.
- Wait if budget <₹80k—mid-rangers like iQOO 15R/Vivo V70 still dominate value, and March (Xiaomi 17?) could bring more options.
What do you think—grabbing the S26 Ultra, sticking with mid-range, or waiting for March? Share in comments, and subscribe for deal alerts, full reviews, camera samples, and battery tests!
