Samsung Galaxy S26 leak confirms slimmer profile & radical design shift

Rumors surrounding the upcoming Galaxy S26 series are heating up, pointing to a noticeable shift in design just months before the expected launch. The latest leak from a reliable source reveals the thickness of the vanilla Samsung Galaxy S26, hinting at a significantly slimmer profile and a fresh aesthetic compared to its predecessor. Samsung will launch these devices at an Unpacked event on February 25, 2026, as per a recent report.

According to well-known Ice Universe, the base Galaxy S26 device will measure just 6.9mm thick. Samsung is reportedly shaving off 0.3mm from its predecessor, the S25 (7.2mm). This roughly 4% reduction in thickness follows Samsung's strategy in recent launches, seeking to differentiate its flagship devices with thin and refined designs.

The sketch included in the report also shows a vertical camera island, breaking away from the clean, no-island design of the last three generations. As usual, the slimmer form factor raises questions about the potential battery capacity of the device.

Samsung Galaxy S26 design leak: Thickness reduced to only 6.9mm

That said, Samsung is also reportedly making other subtle changes. The display size will increase slightly to 6.3 inches (from 6.2 inches), and some rumors indicate that the firm may upgrade its resolution to match the premium Ultra model. The Galaxy S26 lineup itself is simplifying once again, focusing only on the standard, Plus, and Ultra variants. Recent reports point to the cancellation or potential halting of an ultra-slim Edge model, as well as the “S26 Pro” getting back its original moniker—being the base model.

For the premium S26 Ultra, leaked design details suggest noticeably rounded corners. This alleged shift suggests that Samsung is finally moving its top-tier design away from the boxy, Note-inspired look it has favored recently, giving the Ultra a softer overall profile.

Lastly, performance-wise, the S26 will ship with Android 16-based One UI 8.5 firmware out of the box. Recent rumors about these upcoming flagship handsets have been numerous—and sometimes contradictory. However, we will likely learn the actual final details about them as mass production approaches.