The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has officially leaked. While the highly anticipated Galaxy Unpacked event isn’t until February 25, 2026, the internet has already ruined the surprise. In an unprecedented leak, a Dubai-based YouTuber managed to purchase a retail unit days before its official launch, and the hands-on videos are breaking the internet.
The black-market price for this early unit? A staggering 12,000 AED (roughly $3,300). But for tech enthusiasts, the early unboxing answers every question we had about Samsung’s next flagship.
Here is everything you need to know about the Galaxy S26 Ultra without the marketing fluff.
The Game-Changer: A Built-In “Privacy Display”
The most exciting confirmed feature is Samsung’s new Privacy Display. Built directly into the UI and the 6.9-inch screen, this feature mimics a physical privacy screen protector. When activated, the display turns black to anyone looking at it from an off-angle, hiding your sensitive data from onlookers while remaining crystal clear to you.
The Core Specs: Inside the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Benchmarks from the leaked Dubai unit show the S26 Ultra is an absolute powerhouse, scoring over 3.7 million on AnTuTu. Here is the confirmed spec sheet:
- Display: 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED with LTPO adaptive refresh (1Hz–120Hz) and a blinding 2,600 nits peak brightness.
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (Exclusively Snapdragon worldwide; no Exynos for the Ultra).
- RAM & Storage: 12GB RAM base, with storage options ranging from 256GB up to 1TB.
- Design Tweaks: The overall footprint is familiar, but the individual floating camera lenses have been replaced with a raised, integrated “camera island” to reduce table-wobble.
The Letdown: No Camera or Battery Upgrades
If you were hoping for a massive hardware overhaul, temper your expectations. The leak confirms Samsung is heavily prioritizing AI and software optimization over raw hardware changes this year.
- Battery: Sticking with the exact same 5,000 mAh battery as the S25 Ultra.
- Charging: Upgraded to 60W wired fast charging (0 to 75% in 30 minutes).
- Cameras: The rear setup is identical to last year: a 200MP primary sensor, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto (3x optical), and a 50MP periscope telephoto (5x optical). The front camera remains 12MP.
- S-Pen: Still included, but the Bluetooth functionality (which was removed last year) has not made a return.
When is the Official Launch?
Samsung will officially unveil the Galaxy S26 Ultra, alongside the standard S26, S26+, and the new Galaxy Buds 4, at the Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25, 2026. While the Dubai buyer paid a massive premium, retail pricing is expected to start around $1,299, though rumors suggest the 512GB and 1TB models could see a 10-20% price hike due to rising memory costs.
Stay tuned to techxova.com for our full review once the device officially drops!
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