Samsung Electronics unveiled its latest flagship smartphone lineup, the Galaxy S26 series, at Galaxy Unpacked 2026 in San Francisco on February 25th. The series – comprising the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra – marks Samsung’s third generation of Galaxy AI phones, promising a more intuitive and powerful user experience. The launch comes at a challenging time for the smartphone market, with European sales declining by 1% in the past year, according to analysts at Omdia, though Samsung remains the leading vendor in the region, followed by Apple.
The Galaxy S26 series focuses on integrating artificial intelligence more seamlessly into everyday tasks, aiming to simplify complex operations and enhance user productivity. Samsung is positioning the new devices as more than just hardware upgrades, but as a comprehensive AI ecosystem designed to proactively assist users throughout their day. As Nicolò Bellorini, Vice President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business of Samsung Italia, stated, “We want to make artificial intelligence an integral and natural part of the smartphone experience.”
Galaxy S26: Design and Display Innovations
The Galaxy S26 series boasts a refined design aesthetic with rounded curvatures and a cohesive color palette across all three models. Samsung has focused on creating a slimmer and lighter build; the Galaxy S26 Ultra, for example, is 0.3mm thinner than its predecessor and weighs 214 grams. The devices will be available in Cobalt Violet, White, Black, and Sky Blue, with Silver Shadow and Pink Gold offered as online exclusives.
A standout feature of the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the introduction of a “Privacy Display,” a hardware-based solution that limits side-angle viewing without requiring a screen protector. Developed over more than five years, this technology obscures the screen’s content from onlookers, enhancing privacy in public spaces. Users can even assign the Privacy Display to the side button’s double-press function for quick access.
AI Integration and Performance
Beyond the hardware refinements, the Galaxy S26 series significantly expands on Samsung’s AI capabilities. All three models integrate Perplexity, a conversational AI chatbot, alongside existing options like Google Gemini and the improved Bixby assistant. This provides users with a wider range of AI-powered tools for information retrieval and task management. The Galaxy S26 Ultra features a customized chipset and upgraded thermal management system, designed to deliver faster and more powerful AI processing.
Samsung emphasizes that the Galaxy S26 series is engineered to handle complex tasks in the background, allowing users to focus on results rather than the underlying technology. The company highlights its commitment to security and privacy alongside these AI advancements.
Camera and Battery Specifications
The Galaxy S26 and S26+ share similar camera specifications, featuring a 50 MP Wide (with 2x optical zoom and OIS), a 12 MP Ultra-Wide lens, and a 10 MP Telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and OIS. The front-facing camera is a 12 MP sensor. The Galaxy S26 Ultra, however, boasts a more advanced quad-camera system, including a 200 MP Wide lens (with F1.4 aperture), a 50 MP Ultra-Wide lens, a 50 MP Telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and OIS, and a 10 MP Telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and OIS. It also shares the same 12 MP front-facing camera as the other models.
Battery capacities vary across the series, with the Galaxy S26 offering a 4300 mAh battery (an increase from the previous generation), the S26+ featuring a 4900 mAh battery, and the S26 Ultra packing a 5000 mAh battery.
Pricing and Availability
The Galaxy S26 series is priced as follows: the base Galaxy S26 with 256GB of storage starts at €1,029, with a 512GB option available for €1,229. The Galaxy S26+ is priced at €1,289 for the 256GB model and €1,489 for the 512GB version. The Galaxy S26 Ultra begins at €1,499 for 256GB, with 512GB and 1TB configurations priced at €1,699 and €1,999 respectively.
The launch of the Galaxy S26 series signals Samsung’s continued investment in AI-driven mobile experiences. As the company refines its AI ecosystem and introduces innovative features like the Privacy Display, it will be crucial to observe how these advancements resonate with consumers and impact the competitive landscape of the smartphone market.
What are your thoughts on the new Galaxy S26 series? Share your comments below and let us know what features you’re most excited about!