Samsung Galaxy S26 Series: Biggest Redesign Has Been Confirmed

The leaks around the Galaxy S26 lineup have been circulating for months, and most of them pointed to a design change. Samsung seems to be ready to ditch the floating camera rings and move to a more solid camera island. This design language was teased with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Despite the rumors, there was no real confirmation. That changes now that Samsung slipped up and revealed it themselves.

Android Authority uncovered rough 3D renders of the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra buried inside a One UI 8.5 test build. These are clearly internal assets, not polished promo shots, but they tell the story loud and clear. The Galaxy S26 (M1), S26+ (M2), and S26 Ultra (M3) all use a raised, pill-shaped camera module with individual circular cutouts for each lens. This is an interesting shift that marks a clean break from the floating lens design used on the Galaxy S25 series. It also brings the S lineup in line with the Fold design language Samsung has been refining since 2021.

The internal code names match what earlier leaks suggested as well. Samsung refers to the entire lineup internally as part of its “Miracle” project. These devices are also expected to debut with One UI 8.5 preinstalled, Samsung’s latest version of Android 16. For existing Galaxy S25 owners, a One UI 8.5 beta is reportedly planned for the second week of December.

The rumors also suggest that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will soften its shape. In fact, the phone will leave the usual flat design with sharp edges for rounded corners. These corners will leave behind the familiar design of past Ultra and Note phones. It will be visually closer to the rest of the lineup.

The leaked images themselves may look unfinished, but their origin gives them weight. With Samsung’s own firmware now confirming the design, there’s little room left for speculation. The Galaxy S26 family is clearly moving toward a unified, Fold-inspired look. Whether people see it as a smart evolution or an unnecessary bulk-up is up for debate, but one thing is certain: the official reveal suddenly feels much closer.