Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy S26 series, introducing the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and the flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra. This year’s lineup puts artificial intelligence at the center of the experience, with Samsung calling it the most intuitive, proactive, and adaptive Galaxy AI platform yet.
From a built-in Privacy Display to upgraded Nightography and next-gen Snapdragon performance, the Galaxy S26 Ultra aims to redefine what a premium Android flagship can do.
Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra: display sizes and design
The new lineup includes three models:
- Galaxy S26 – 6.3-inch OLED display
- Galaxy S26+ – 6.7-inch OLED display
- Galaxy S26 Ultra – 6.9-inch OLED display with S Pen support
All three devices feature vibrant OLED panels, but only the Ultra model supports Samsung’s S Pen stylus, maintaining its appeal for productivity-focused users.
Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces built-in privacy display
The standout feature this year is the Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Unlike traditional screen protectors, this system works at the pixel level, controlling how light disperses from the display. When viewed straight on, the screen appears clear and bright. From side angles, however, visibility drops significantly, making it harder for others to peek at your content.
Users can:
- Enable Privacy Display for specific apps
- Activate it automatically during sensitive actions like entering a PIN
- Choose between partial and maximum privacy modes
It is a built-in solution designed for commuters, travelers, and anyone concerned about shoulder surfing.
Galaxy S26 Ultra camera system: 200MP and advanced Nightography
Samsung continues its megapixel arms race with the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s powerful camera system:
- 200MP wide lens
- 50MP ultra wide lens
- 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom
- 50MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom and 10x optical-quality zoom
Low-light video also gets an upgrade with improved Nightography, delivering clearer footage in darker environments.
AI-powered editing tools expand creative possibilities:
Photo Assist
- Remove or restore objects
- Convert day shots into night scenes
- Change outfits within photos
- Modify backgrounds with text prompts
Creative Studio
Create AI-generated stickers, wallpapers, and invitations using sketches, prompts, or photos.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: faster CPU, GPU, and AI
The Galaxy S26 series runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor.
Samsung claims:
- 19 percent faster CPU performance
- 24 percent faster GPU performance
- 39 percent improvement in neural processing
The Ultra model includes an upgraded vapor chamber with enhanced thermal materials for improved heat dissipation. Samsung also introduced a “ProScaler” feature that enhances image scaling for photos and videos.
Most models include 12GB of RAM, while the 1TB Galaxy S26 Ultra comes with 16GB.
Faster charging and battery improvements
Samsung has improved charging speeds across the lineup:
- 75 percent charge in 30 minutes
- Wireless charging up to 25W
These improvements aim to reduce downtime for power users.
New Galaxy AI features in the S26 Series
Samsung is expanding Galaxy AI with several new capabilities:
- Now Nudge: Smart suggestions that surface relevant content without app switching.
- Now Brief: A more proactive daily AI summary with contextual reminders.
- Circle to Search: Enhanced multi-object recognition within images.
- Call Screening: Unknown callers must explain their reason for calling, which is then summarized.
- Privacy Alerts: Machine learning flags suspicious app behavior related to sensitive data.
- Private Album: Hide selected photos and videos without creating separate folders.
- Bixby and Third-Party Chatbots: Bixby now acts as a conversational device agent, while users can also activate Gemini or Perplexity via button press or voice.
- Background Processing: AI agents can complete multi-step tasks while you continue using the phone.
Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro announced
Samsung also introduced Galaxy Buds4 and Galaxy Buds4 Pro.
Galaxy Buds4:
- Updated ergonomic fit
- Improved sound quality
Galaxy Buds4 Pro:
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Enhanced Adaptive EQ
- Head gesture controls for calls
- AI agent activation support
Pricing and release date
Pre-orders are available now, with official availability starting March 11.
Pricing:
- Galaxy S26 – $899.99
- Galaxy S26+ – $1,099.99
- Galaxy S26 Ultra – $1,299.99
The Galaxy Buds4 series is also available for pre-order.
