Samsung is once again facing a familiar problem ahead of its latest flagship launch. Details about the upcoming Galaxy S26 series have already surfaced online through a wave of leaks, outlining specifications and features for all three models before the company’s official announcement.
This year, however, the leaks appear to have gone a step further. A YouTuber has already managed to get their hands on the top-end Galaxy S26 Ultra ahead of its scheduled unveiling, sharing early hands-on coverage just days before Samsung’s launch event.
Sahil Karoul, a Dubai-based technology YouTuber, purchased the African variant of the Galaxy S26 Ultra in the white colorway and has since published an unboxing video showcasing the device. The video corroborates the subtle design refinements and spec updates revealed in previous leaks, with the phone featuring more rounded edges, an updated camera layout with a pill-shaped island housing the three main sensors, and a tweaked S Pen with a rounded bottom that’s housed closer to the left edge of the device.
In terms of hardware, the video reveals that the base Galaxy S26 Ultra ships with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.1 storage. The device is said to pack a 5,000mAh battery with support for 60W wired charging, along with a 6.89-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO display offering a 3120 x 1440 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. A dual-SIM card tray is also visible in the unboxing.
The showcased unit is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (SM8850) chipset. Benchmark results displayed in the video show an AnTuTu score of 3,720,219, alongside Geekbench scores of 3,648 in the single-core test and 10,898 in the multi-core test.
The video further highlights the new Privacy display feature that had previously surfaced in leaks. The functionality is designed to reduce screen visibility when viewed from an angle, helping shield content from bystanders. It reportedly includes two levels, with a Maximum privacy protection setting that darkens the screen at shallower viewing angles, as well as options to enable the feature automatically for notifications or selected apps.
On the imaging front, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is said to feature a 200MP primary sensor with 2x optical zoom, a 50MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, a 10MP secondary telephoto lens, and a 50MP ultrawide sensor. A 12MP front-facing camera handles selfies. For video recording, the rear cameras support up to 8K at 30fps and 4K at 60fps, while the front-facing camera is capable of recording at 4K 60fps.
The video does not disclose pricing details, but with Samsung’s launch event just around the corner, official confirmation on pricing and availability is expected soon. Samsung is scheduled to unveil the Galaxy S26 series on February 25, with the devices expected to go on sale in early March.