Samsung officially launched the Galaxy S26 series on February 25 at Galaxy Unpacked in San Francisco, introducing its “most intuitive AI phone yet” alongside the revolutionary Privacy Display technology. The S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra are available for preorder now, with devices shipping March 11.
Privacy Display: The Standout Feature
The headline feature exclusive to Galaxy S26 Ultra is Privacy Display—a screen that limits side-angle viewing without requiring a separate screen protector. According to Samsung’s announcement, the display remains perfectly clear when viewed straight-on but restricts visibility from sides, above, and below.
This addresses a common security concern: people in crowded public transportation, elevators, or coffee shops seeing sensitive information on your screen. Android Central’s hands-on coverage confirmed Privacy Display works impressively, with content staying concealed even from extreme side angles.
Users can activate Privacy Display via a double-press of the side button or set it to automatically engage when entering PINs, passwords, or when notification pop-ups appear. The feature represents more than five years of research and development, according to Samsung.
Galaxy AI Gets More Intuitive
Samsung positioned the S26 series as its third-generation AI phone, with Galaxy AI now handling complex tasks in the background. The upgraded Bixby assistant can interpret natural language commands to adjust settings without users knowing exact menu locations.
For example, saying “My eyes feel tired” prompts Bixby to suggest activating Eye Comfort Shield. According to Tom’s Guide, this contextual understanding reduces friction in everyday phone use—eliminating the need to navigate complex menus for common tasks.
The S26 series integrates three AI assistants: Bixby for device control, Google’s Gemini for broader queries, and Perplexity for real-time web search. This multi-agent approach lets users choose the right tool for each task.
New AI photography features let you transform day photos into night scenes, restore missing parts of objects, capture detailed low-light photos, and merge multiple photos into single cohesive results—all powered by on-device AI processing.
Design and Build Quality
The Galaxy S26 series features unified design language across all three models. PhoneArena’s hands-on revealed the S26 Ultra is 0.3mm thinner than its predecessor and weighs 214 grams—making it more comfortable for extended use.
All models feature refined aesthetics with rounded curvature and cohesive color palettes. Available colors include Cobalt Violet, White, Black, and Sky Blue, with Samsung.com-exclusive Pink Gold and Silver Shadow options.
The camera module adopts a new horizontal pill-shaped design with frosted metallic finish, departing from previous circular arrangements. Engadget noted the refined look creates stronger visual cohesion across the lineup.
Specs and Performance
All three S26 models run Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor. The base Galaxy S26 now starts with 256GB storage—Samsung eliminated the 128GB tier that many considered inadequate.
The S26 Ultra packs advanced camera systems with AI-powered capture and editing. An “Ocean Mode” in Expert Raw enhances underwater photography, making colors more vibrant and reducing the washed-out appearance common in underwater shots.
According to 9to5Google, several Pixel-exclusive features are coming to Galaxy phones including call screening for spam calls and “Now Nudge”—a context-sensitive action feature inspired by Google’s Magic Cue.
Pricing and Availability
Pricing increased $100 across the base models:
- Galaxy S26: $899 (up from $799)
- Galaxy S26+: $1,099 (up from $999)
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Pricing not yet disclosed
Preorders opened February 25 through Samsung.com and major carriers. Android Central reports carriers are offering aggressive deals—T-Mobile and Verizon both offering free S26 Plus with new line activation on select unlimited plans.
Samsung is providing up to $900 credit for trade-ins of eligible devices. Reservations made before the event receive $30 Samsung store credit plus entry to win a $5,000 gift card.
Galaxy Buds 4 Also Launched
Samsung unveiled Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro alongside the S26 series. The new earbuds feature improved sound quality, enhanced active noise cancellation, and better integration with Galaxy AI features for contextual audio adjustments.
According to Samsung’s announcement, the Buds 4 series offers “precision sound meets intelligent design” with AI-powered sound optimization that adapts to environment and listening habits.
One UI 8.5 Coming Soon
The February security update currently rolling to existing Galaxy phones sets the foundation for One UI 8.5—Samsung’s next major software update. One UI 8.5 launches March 11 alongside S26 availability, bringing many S26-exclusive AI features to older compatible devices.
The update includes the redesigned Bixby, enhanced Galaxy AI capabilities, and improved integration with Google and Perplexity AI assistants.
What Tech Reviewers Are Saying
Early hands-on impressions are mixed. Reviewers praise Privacy Display as genuinely innovative and useful. The refined design and improved AI features earn positive marks. However, the $100 price increase for base models without massive spec upgrades disappoints some.
Tom’s Guide needs more testing time before making final recommendations but noted the S26 series represents solid incremental improvements rather than revolutionary changes.
Android Central appreciated the thinner, lighter Ultra model and found Privacy Display works better than expected. However, they noted many software features announced also work on older Galaxy devices via One UI 8.5.
Should You Upgrade?
If you own a Galaxy S25, the incremental improvements probably don’t justify upgrading. The S26 series targets users with S23 or older devices—providing meaningful performance, camera, and AI enhancements worth the investment.
Privacy Display alone may convince some users to upgrade, particularly business professionals or anyone handling sensitive information in public spaces regularly.
For those considering new phones, the S26 series competes against Google Pixel 11, iPhone 17, and other flagship devices. Samsung’s strength remains display quality, AI integration, and ecosystem connectivity across Galaxy products.
The $100 price increase stings but preorder deals and trade-in credits soften the blow for many buyers.
Read more tech related article here.
Leave a Reply