Samsung Electronics has unveiled the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra, introducing its most advanced Galaxy AI experience yet, alongside major upgrades in performance, camera technology and privacy protection.
Qualcomm said its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform will power the Galaxy S26 Ultra globally and the Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 in select markets.
Samsung’s smartphone shipment reached 239.1 million in 2025 as compared with 222.9 in 2024. This compares with Apple’s iPhone shipment of 240.6 million in 2025 vs 225.9 million in 2024, according to the latest Omdia report.
Built-In Privacy Display Debuts on Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Galaxy S26 Ultra features the world’s first built-in Privacy Display for smartphones. Unlike traditional privacy films, this integrated technology limits side-angle visibility while maintaining full brightness and clarity for the user. It can automatically activate during sensitive actions such as entering passwords or opening selected apps, offering pixel-level privacy protection without compromising display quality.
Customized Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Delivers Major Performance Gains
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy, delivering:
Up to 19 percent CPU performance improvement
39 percent faster NPU performance for always-on AI
24 percent GPU performance boost for smoother visuals and gaming
Samsung has redesigned the Vapor Chamber cooling system with improved thermal interface materials to ensure stable performance during gaming, multitasking and 4K video capture. Super Fast Charging 3.0 enables up to 75 percent charge in just 30 minutes.
ProScaler image scaling and the upgraded mobile Digital Natural Image engine enhance sharpness, color accuracy and overall display realism.
Industry-Leading Camera with APV Professional Video Codec
The Galaxy S26 Ultra strengthens Samsung’s leadership in smartphone imaging with:
Wider camera apertures for brighter low-light photography
Enhanced Nightography Video for clearer footage in dim scenes
Upgraded Super Steady stabilization with horizontal lock
First-ever Galaxy support for APV professional-grade video codec
APV delivers visually lossless video quality with efficient compression, designed for advanced creators who edit content multiple times.
The AI-powered ISP now enhances selfie camera output with more natural skin tones in mixed lighting. Photo Assist allows users to edit images using natural language prompts, including changing time of day, restoring missing elements or even modifying outfits in photos.
Creative Studio enables users to generate wallpapers, stickers and invitations from sketches or prompts, while Document Scan automatically removes distortions and converts multiple images into a single PDF.
Smarter, Proactive Galaxy AI
The Galaxy S26 series introduces more proactive AI features:
Now Nudge suggests relevant actions like sharing trip photos or checking calendar conflicts
Now Brief delivers personalized reminders and updates
Circle to Search with Google supports multi-object recognition
Upgraded Bixby enables more natural device control
Samsung also integrates AI agents such as Gemini and Perplexity, allowing multi-step tasks like booking a taxi through a single voice request.
Stronger Security with Post-Quantum Protection
Samsung enhances mobile security with:
Built-in Privacy Display
AI-powered Call Screening
Real-time Privacy Alerts for sensitive app permissions
Private Album inside Gallery
Post-quantum cryptography protection for system processes
The Galaxy S26 series is protected by Samsung Knox, Knox Vault and enhanced encryption features, with seven years of security updates to ensure long-term protection.
Seamless Ecosystem with Galaxy Buds4
Paired with the new Galaxy Buds4 series, users can activate AI agents via voice, manage calls with head gestures and stay connected hands-free.
With AI automation, professional-grade video innovation, built-in privacy hardware and upgraded performance, the Galaxy S26 series positions itself as one of the most advanced flagship smartphone lineups for 2026 buyers seeking intelligent, secure and creator-focused mobile experiences.
BABURAJAN KIZHAKEDATH
