Samsung has revealed the latest Galaxy S26 series, showcasing subtle hardware upgrades and an expanded set of artificial intelligence (AI) functionalities, while emphasizing enhanced display privacy in its premium model. The new Galaxy S26 lineup maintains a sleek design, with a unified camera setup for the standard model, offered in a variety of colors including Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, black, and white, with exclusive online finishes.
The base S26 boasts a slightly larger 6.3-inch display compared to its predecessor, aligning it closer in size with leading competitors like the Apple iPhone 17 and Google Pixel 10. The S26+ features a 6.7-inch quad HD screen, matching the Ultra variant in resolution and surpassing the full HD display of the base model.
The standout feature of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is its built-in Privacy Display, aimed at restricting side-angle visibility, a feature usually achieved through third-party accessories. Additionally, the standard S26 sees a battery upgrade from 4,000mAh to 4,300mAh. All models are equipped with the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor optimized for Samsung devices.
Camera specifications are consistent with the previous year’s models, with the S26 and S26+ housing a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens offering 3x optical zoom. The Ultra model retains its 200-megapixel main camera, along with a 50-megapixel ultrawide and dual telephoto system. Samsung promises software enhancements for improved low-light video performance and image stabilization, with added support for the APV video codec for professional users.
The Galaxy S26 series will be among the first devices to support a specialized version of Google Gemini, initially integrated with select applications focusing on services like ride-hailing and grocery shopping. New features include Now Nudge for contextual prompts, updated Now Brief reminders, and Circle to Search with Google for identifying multiple objects in images. The devices also introduce scam call detection and AI-assisted number screening.
Software improvements include a revamped voice assistant experience with Bixby integrated into One UI 8.5, supporting more natural language commands and multi-layered requests across applications. Pricing for the S26 and S26+ has increased to $899 and $1,999, respectively, with the base model now starting at 256GB storage. The S26 Ultra maintains its price at $1,299.
In addition to the smartphones, Samsung unveiled the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, featuring a redesigned look with shorter stems and support for 24-bit audio on compatible Samsung devices.