Samsung announced the Galaxy S26 series at its Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event on February 25, nearly one month later than the Galaxy S25 launch on January 22, 2025. The new lineup brings higher base storage, stronger AI performance and a differentiated hardware feature for privacy, while modestly increasing entry prices for most models.

All three models now start at 256GB of storage (up from 128GB on the S25 and S25 Plus) and have a new internal chip for faster performance in all tasks, including new AI software features.

All S26 models use the 3nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. The S26 has a resolution of 2340 x 1080, the same as the S25. The S26+ and S26 Ultra have a resolution of 3120 x 1440, the same as the S25+ and S25 Ultra. The battery capacities have remained the same for the S26 Plus and S26 Ultra at 4,900 mAh and 5,000 mAh, with the S26 Ultra now having a 60W wired charging capacity, up from 45W for the S25 Ultra. The S26 has a larger battery at 4,300 mAh, up from 4,000 mAh for the S25. The S26 and S26+ starting prices are $899 and $1099, up from $799 and $999 for the S25 and S25+. The S26 Ultra has a starting price of $1,299, unchanged from the S25 Ultra.

For the S26 Ultra, the big new feature is the built-in privacy screen. The privacy screen introduces privacy at the pixel level with the mobile industry’s first built-in Privacy Display. Privacy Display goes beyond anything previously available on mobile devices, with hardware and software working as one to protect privacy without compromising the viewing experience.

By controlling how pixels disperse light, the display keeps content clear, bright and comfortable for the user in everyday use, while limiting what others can see. Unlike traditional stick-on privacy films, Galaxy’s integrated Privacy Display preserves full viewing quality from all directions when off, and limits visibility for others from side viewing angles when activated, even when switching between portrait and landscape orientation. Users can customize when it turns on, such as when entering PINs, patterns and passwords or opening selected apps, and adjust privacy levels depending on the situation. Partial Screen Privacy intelligently limits visibility for notification pop-ups, while Maximum Privacy Protection further obscures side views for added discretion, all with minimal impact on power or usability.

The S26 Ultra also has an improved camera system. Samsung notes that the wider camera apertures allow more light to reach the sensor, delivering clearer photos with richer details in low-light conditions, even when zoomed in. Enhanced Nightography Video keeps footage clearer and more vibrant, even in dim scenes. Video capture is further enhanced with upgraded Super Steady capabilities, which add a horizontal lock option for greater stability and to make consistent framing easier to achieve, even with bumpy trails or fast-paced activities. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the first Galaxy device to support APV, a new professional-grade video codec designed to deliver efficient compression for high-quality production workflows. Optimized for advanced creators, it ensures visually lossless video quality that stays true even after repeated editing.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite Gen 5 chipset for Galaxy improves CPU performance by 19%, NPU performance by 39% and GPU performance by 24%. While the S26 Ultra uses this chip worldwide, the S26 and S26+ use a mix of Snapdragon and Exynos 2600 depending on the region.

TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics, noted, “We believe AI should be something people can depend on every day, designed to work consistently for everyone and without the need for expertise. With the Galaxy S26 series, we focused on making AI feel effortless, working quietly in the background so people can focus on what matters.”

The S26 series comes with Android 16 and One UI 8.5. The series can be preordered as of February 25, with availability on March 11.

Galaxy S26 Series Specifications

Analyst takes

The Galaxy S26 series reflects a strategic pivot toward value density rather than radical redesign. Samsung is increasing the baseline storage to 256GB and raising entry prices on the S26 and S26+, effectively protecting ASPs while improving perceived value.

The integration of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 across the Ultra globally, with meaningful NPU gains, reinforces Samsung’s AI-first positioning. The 39% NPU uplift aligns directly with TM Roh’s vision of AI operating seamlessly in the background.

The built-in Privacy Display is the most differentiated hardware innovation in this cycle. While it may not drive mass-market upgrades immediately, it strengthens Samsung’s positioning in enterprise, government and privacy-conscious segments, areas where differentiation beyond camera specs is increasingly important.

Camera enhancements and APV codec support further reinforce Samsung’s push into advanced content creation workflows, competing more directly with Apple’s ProRes ecosystem at the high end.

From a pricing standpoint, Samsung appears confident in premium elasticity. Raising entry prices while holding the Ultra steady suggests a deliberate mix strategy designed to preserve margins amid rising component and AI silicon costs.