Samsung Electronics officially launched the Galaxy S26 series on February 25, 2026, at its Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco, introducing the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra as its most intuitive AI-focused smartphones yet. Pre-orders began immediately, with general availability scheduled for March 11, 2026, across major markets including the United States, Europe and Asia.

Galaxy S26
Galaxy S26

The lineup emphasizes refined design, powerful performance and expanded Galaxy AI capabilities, building on the foundation of the Galaxy S25 series. All models run Android 16 with One UI 8.5, promising seven years of major OS upgrades and security patches.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra stands as the premium flagship, featuring a 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz), Vision Booster for enhanced outdoor visibility and peak brightness up to 2,600 nits. It measures 78.1 x 163.6 x 7.9mm and weighs 214g — 0.3mm thinner and slightly lighter than its predecessor for improved ergonomics. The device includes rounded Armor Aluminum corners, IP68 water and dust resistance, and an integrated S Pen stylus.

Power comes from Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 customized for Galaxy, delivering claimed improvements of 19% in CPU, 24% in GPU and 39% in NPU performance for AI tasks. Configurations offer 12GB or 16GB RAM with 256GB, 512GB or 1TB storage options (no microSD expansion). The 5,000mAh battery supports up to 31 hours of video playback, with a major upgrade to 60W wired charging (up from 45W) and 25W wireless charging, plus reverse wireless charging.

The camera system leads with a 200MP wide main sensor (f/1.4 aperture for better low-light performance), 50MP ultrawide (f/1.9), 10MP 3x telephoto (f/2.4) and 50MP 5x periscope telephoto (f/2.9). It enables up to 10x optical-quality zoom via adaptive pixel technology, improved Nightography and Super Steady video stabilization. The 12MP front camera supports enhanced selfies.

A headline feature is the world-first built-in Privacy Display, which limits visibility from side angles to prevent shoulder surfing in public settings while remaining clear from the front.

The Galaxy S26+ features a 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 12GB RAM and 256GB or 512GB storage. It weighs 190g at 7.3mm thick with a 4,900mAh battery offering 31 hours of video playback and faster charging. The rear setup includes a 50MP wide main, with similar AI enhancements.

The base Galaxy S26 sports a 6.3-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, the same processor, 12GB RAM and 256GB or 512GB storage. It measures 7.2mm thick and weighs 167g with a 4,300mAh battery supporting 31 hours of playback.

Pricing reflects adjustments amid component costs: the Galaxy S26 starts at $899.99 for 256GB (up $100 from the S25), the S26+ at $1,099.99 for 256GB (also up $100), and the S26 Ultra holds steady at $1,299.99 for 256GB. Higher tiers reach $1,799.99 for the Ultra's 1TB model. Pre-order promotions include up to $900 trade-in credit or $150 accessory discounts on Samsung.com.

Galaxy AI enhancements across the series include advanced contextual awareness, proactive suggestions, improved photo editing, real-time translation and Bixby upgrades for more natural interactions. The custom chipset optimizes on-device processing for efficiency and privacy.

Availability spans carriers, retailers like Best Buy and Amazon, and Samsung Experience Stores. Colors vary by model and region, including Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White, Silver Shadow and Pink Gold.

Early hands-on impressions highlight the Ultra's slimmer profile, brighter display and faster charging as meaningful upgrades, though some note incremental changes from the S25. The privacy screen and AI refinements position the series strongly against competitors like Apple's iPhone lineup.

As pre-orders roll in, the Galaxy S26 series arrives at a pivotal time for Samsung, emphasizing AI integration and user privacy in a crowded premium smartphone market.