Meet Galaxy S26

Samsung Electronics has unveiled the Galaxy S26 series, positioning it as its most advanced AI-driven smartphone lineup yet, with upgrades focused on performance, privacy and everyday usability.

The new series includes the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra. Samsung describes the lineup as its third-generation AI phones, built to handle complex tasks in the background so users can focus on results instead of navigating multiple apps and menus.

“We believe AI should be something people can depend on every day, designed to work consistently for everyone and without the need for expertise,” said TM Roh, chief executive officer, president, and head of Device eXperience Division at Samsung Electronics. “With the Galaxy S26 series, we focused on making AI feel effortless, working quietly in the background so people can focus on what matters.”

At the core of the series is a customized chipset engineered for artificial intelligence, power efficiency and improved thermal control. On the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung integrates the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy, delivering up to 19 percent faster CPU performance, a 39 percent improvement in neural processing for AI tasks and a 24 percent boost in graphics performance.

To sustain heavy workloads, the Ultra model features a redesigned vapor chamber and improved heat dissipation system, allowing the device to remain stable during gaming, multitasking and high-resolution video recording. Super Fast Charging 3.0 enables the battery to reach up to 75 percent in 30 minutes.

Samsung is also doubling down on display innovation. The Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces what the company calls the first built-in Privacy Display on a mobile phone. The feature controls how pixels disperse light, keeping content clear to the user while limiting visibility from side angles when activated. Users can customize when the privacy mode turns on, including during PIN entry or while opening selected apps.

Beyond hardware, the S26 series leans heavily into AI-powered productivity. Features such as Now Nudge and Now Brief proactively surface reminders, calendar conflicts and contextual suggestions. Circle to Search with Google now supports multi-object recognition, allowing users to search several elements in an image at once.

Samsung has also upgraded Bixby into a more conversational device agent. The S26 series supports additional AI agents, including Gemini and Perplexity, enabling multi-step tasks such as booking services or managing cross-app actions through voice or a single prompt.

On the camera front, the Galaxy S26 Ultra enhances low-light photography and video with wider apertures and improved Nightography capabilities. A new professional-grade APV video codec supports high-quality compression for advanced editing workflows. AI-powered editing tools allow users to describe changes in natural language, from adjusting lighting to restoring missing elements in photos.

The company is also expanding its security infrastructure. The S26 Ultra integrates post-quantum cryptography into system processes and extends encryption across connected Galaxy devices through Knox Matrix. New AI-powered privacy alerts notify users when apps attempt to access sensitive data such as precise location or call logs.

Samsung says the S26 series will receive seven years of security updates, reinforcing its push for longer device lifespans.

The Galaxy S26 lineup will be available for pre-order starting 25 February. Color options include Cobalt Violet, White, Black and Sky Blue, along with online-exclusive Pink Gold and Silver Shadow variants.