Highlights
- The Galaxy S26 series will debut Samsung’s Exynos Modem 5410 and enable satellite voice and video calls, improved reliability and better power efficiency.
- Hands-on images show the Galaxy S26 and S26 Ultra with a familiar flagship design but new camera layouts.
- The Galaxy S26 Ultra may include upgraded lenses with anti-glare coating, improved skin tone accuracy, and a quad system led by a 200MP sensor.
Samsung’s next-generation Galaxy S26 series is still a few months away from launch. But fresh leaks now have revealed several key details about the upcoming flagship lineup. The South Korean tech giant has quietly announced the Exynos Modem 5410, a new dedicated 5G modem that is expected to debut on select Galaxy S26 models alongside the Exynos 2600 chipset.
We also have hands-on images and camera details of the advanced models. Here’s everything we know about the lineup based on recent leaks.
Galaxy S26 Series – Exynos Modem 5410 To Bring Satellite Voice and Video Calling
According to information listed on Samsung’s website, the Exynos Modem 5410 integrates advanced satellite and cellular connectivity into a single chip. It supports LTE Direct-to-Cell (DTC), NB-IoT NTN, and NR NTN satellite communication technologies, all based on the 3GPP Release 17 standard.
Samsung explains that LTE DTC expands satellite functionality by enabling voice calls. Meanwhile, NB-IoT NTN allows users to share location details and send text messages via satellites positioned high above the Earth, making communication possible in remote or no-network areas such as deserts. The NR-NTN standard further enhances connectivity by supporting higher-quality communication, including video calls.
The company’s earlier Exynos Modem 5400 offered only basic satellite support. In contrast, the new Exynos Modem 5410 is said to deliver more reliable and secure communication, thanks to support for Root of Trust-based Hybrid PQC along with improved power efficiency.
With this new modem, the Galaxy S26 lineup could offer more advanced satellite calling features and potentially better battery life. This would be a notable step up from the Galaxy S25 series, which reportedly supported only limited emergency satellite texting. Similar satellite features are already available on Apple’s iPhone and Google Pixel smartphones.
Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Ultra Hands-On Images Leak
Tipster Steve H. McFly known as @OnLeaks on X has shared leaked hands-on images of the Samsung Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Ultra. The images show the Galaxy S26 in a white colour option, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra appears in both white and black finishes. The two devices are shown side by side, highlighting the size difference, with the standard Galaxy S26 being shorter than the Ultra model.
Both phones appear to follow Samsung’s familiar flagship design language, featuring flat rear panels with slightly curved edges. However, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s rear camera layout shows noticeable changes compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is seen with a quad-camera setup. Three of the four rear cameras are vertically aligned within a raised camera island, while the fourth sensor sits separately and protrudes directly from the back panel. An LED flash is positioned near this fourth camera. In comparison, the Galaxy S25 Ultra features individually placed rear camera lenses without a raised island.
The standard Galaxy S26, meanwhile, is shown with a vertically arranged triple rear camera setup. All three lenses appear uniform in size with a single LED flash placed to the right of the camera module.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Camera Upgrades (Expected)
In a separate leak, tipster Ice Universe claimed on Weibo revealed that the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will receive multiple camera-related improvements. According to the post, the device may feature upgraded lenses with a new coating designed to reduce glare.
If accurate, this enhancement could help the Galaxy S26 Ultra capture clearer images in challenging lighting conditions such as when shooting directly into sunlight or when a strong light source is pointed at the camera. Typically, such conditions cause light to scatter across the lens, resulting in blurry or distorted photos. The reported coating could help address this issue.
The tipster also suggests that Samsung has resolved a problem seen in previous Galaxy S series phones, where skin tones were not always accurately reproduced in photos. However, Samsung has not officially acknowledged these claims.
The flagship is expected to feature a quad rear camera system led by a 200-megapixel primary sensor. It is also said to include a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and an additional 50-megapixel periscope telephoto lens offering 5x optical zoom.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Launch and Chipset Details (Expected)
Leaks suggest that Samsung could launch the Galaxy S26 series in February with the lineup including the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. In select regions, these phones may be powered by a Galaxy-branded version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. However, markets such as South Korea and Europe are expected to receive Exynos 2600-powered variants.
FAQs
Q1. What new connectivity features will the Galaxy S26 series offer?
Answer. The Galaxy S26 lineup is expected to debut Samsung’s Exynos Modem 5410, enabling satellite voice and video calls, improved reliability and better power efficiency.
Q2. What do the leaked hands-on images reveal about the Galaxy S26 and S26 Ultra?
Answer. The Galaxy S26 appears in white with a triple rear camera setup, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra shows a quad-camera system in white and black finishes, featuring a raised camera island design.
Q3. What camera upgrades are expected for the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
Answer. Leaks suggest upgraded lenses with anti-glare coating to reduce glare and improve clarity, better skin tone reproduction, and a quad setup led by a 200MP primary sensor, alongside ultrawide, telephoto, and periscope telephoto lenses.