When Does Samsung Release New Phones?

2025: the year of Samsung’s most advanced flagship phone, the Galaxy S25. This series featured the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and an upgraded 200 MP lens on the Ultra’s main camera.

The company’s latest foldable phone offering also launched, including the pocket-friendly Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7. Samsung’s “thinnest, lightest, and most advanced foldable yet — meticulously crafted and built to last” were the words used to describe the Fold 7, with many of its specs matching Samsung flagships.

The common denominator between these devices? They all followed a regular release schedule. Keep reading as we explore Samsung’s latest launches this year and in 2026.

When Are Samsung Flagship Phones Launched?

Samsung flagships, including the Galaxy S series, are launched at Galaxy Unpacked. The first of these biannual launch events normally takes place in either late January or early February. 

This year’s San Jose Unpacked focused on the flagship Galaxy S25 range, which includes three phones: the base model, alongside the S25+ and premium Ultra. Pre-orders began on the same day, January 22, 2025, with general availability from February 7. 

The S25 schedule ran just a week behind the previous year: a Jan 17 Galaxy Unpacked date, followed by the in-store launch two weeks later.

Why Does Samsung Follow an Early Release Strategy?

Releasing just before Christmas rather than later in the year allows Samsung to target the holiday gift market. Other reasons for this early release strategy include:

1. Competing with Apple: iPhones usually launch later in the year, in September. The January/February slot helps Samsung get ahead of Apple and potentially divert sales away from the iPhone series.

2. Creating a New Release Cycle: The Galaxy S25 launching in 2025 gives Samsung a whole year of sales for its flagship phone. 

3. Aligning the Pricing Strategy: By releasing in January, holiday discounts on older Galaxy S models won’t take sales away from Samsung’s newer releases.

4. Manufacturing System-On-Chips: Qualcomm, manufacturer of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and other Android chips, typically doesn’t release its new SoCs until Q4. 

5. Catering to Tech Show Timing: Known as “the most powerful tech event in the world,” CES takes place in January. With MWC happening at the end of February, this gap ensures Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked holds the limelight.

Is the Samsung Galaxy FE Released At the Same Time?

The Galaxy FE typically launches 6 to 7 months later, with the S25 FE becoming available on September 4, 2025. This is slightly earlier than its predecessor, which launched on October 3, 2024.

As a budget-friendly alternative to the flagship Galaxy S, the Galaxy Fan Edition “plays an important role as a gateway into the broader Galaxy AI ecosystem,” according to Samsung Electronics’ Executive Vice President Jay Kim. 

The S25 FE starts from just $649.99, yet offers many of the same features, such as:

• 4900 mAh battery capacity

• Upgraded 12 MP front camera

• Galaxy AI and a ProVisual Engine for enhanced photography

• 6.7-inch display with a 120 Hz refresh rate

• Enhanced Armor Aluminum frame

• Seven years of OS upgrades and security updates

What Release Schedule Does the Galaxy Z Series Follow?

A second Unpacked is also scheduled for the summer, around June or July, which announces the foldable Galaxy smartphones: the Z Flip and Z Fold.

This year’s “Unfold Ultra” event debuted the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7, plus a more affordable Z Flip 7 FE. It took place on July 9, 2025, in Brooklyn and introduced a new era for Samsung’s One UI 8 software, powered by Galaxy AI. Unfold Ultra also launched the latest Galaxy Watch 8 series.

The Z Fold 7 included a larger 6.5-inch cover screen and the same Snapdragon 8 Elite chip as the flagship S25. And as for the Z Flip 7, a “pocket-sized AI powerhouse” is the perfect description. 

The slimmer design is complemented by an edge-to-edge FlexWindow display that offers a sharper 948 x 1048 resolution. It also comes with Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2500 chipset, which, unfortunately, is slightly less advanced than the Snapdragon silicon.

The official release for these foldables was just a few weeks later on July 25, and followed the same pattern as previous years. 

When Do Galaxy A-Series Phones Launch?

The more affordable A-series is usually released in April or May. But this is just the start. A series of Galaxy A editions is released throughout the year, with 2025 introducing three models:

• A26

• A36

• A56

Each model in this series is said to deliver “a premium experience without the flagship price tag,” especially since their recent refresh with enhanced waterproofing and premium materials.

All three phones were announced on March 2, 2025, with the A36 becoming available on March 26 and the A26 two days later. We had to wait until July 18 for the Galaxy A56 to reach the US.

Which New Samsung Phones Will Be Released?

Three new Galaxy S phones and two A-series releases are planned for 2026. And, even more excitedly, joining the Z Flip and Fold 8 is Samsung’s first tri-fold phone!

While we don’t yet have all the potential release dates, here’s an overview of the upcoming Galaxy launches:

• Galaxy S26: Leaks report that the S26 series could swap the standard Galaxy AI for Gauss, Samsung’s on-device generative artificial intelligence model. While the S26 Edge may be cancelled, the rest of the S26 lineup looks likely to launch in January or February.

• Galaxy A37 and A57: These mid-range phones may launch earlier this year, possibly in March or April, to help Samsung dominate the market sooner.

• Galaxy Z Flip 8: July 2026 is the date earmarked for both the Z Flip and Fold 8, based on previous years. Samsung is reportedly aiming to boost foldable sales by 10% next year, so improvements in thickness and weight could be coming.

• Galaxy Z TriFold: Already available in South Korea, the first triple-folding cell phone could appear on US shelves as early as Q1 2026!

Final Thoughts

So, why do Galaxy devices release throughout the year? These launches position Samsung as an innovative company that’s continually seeks ways to introduce upgraded technology to the smartphone market.

And the results speak for themselves, with Apple potentially following a similar strategy in 2026! The base iPhone 18 could enter the market in spring 2027, while the Pro and Pro Max launch will likely remain in September.

Keep an eye on Ghostek Insider for all the latest news surrounding both Samsung and Apple’s new phone launches in 2026 and beyond.