Samsung has formally unveiled the Galaxy S26 series, positioning it as the company’s most ambitious step yet toward an AI‑centred smartphone future. The new line places automation, contextual awareness and proactive assistance at the heart of the user experience, with Samsung presenting the devices as tools that reduce friction in everyday tasks rather than simply offering more power or higher specs. It is a confident statement of intent from a manufacturer that sees AI not as an add‑on, but as the defining feature of its next generation of hardware.
Hardware built for an AI‑first era
The Galaxy S26 Ultra leads the range with a notable industry first: a built‑in Privacy Display designed to protect sensitive information at the pixel level. Samsung is treating this as a new class of mobile screen technology, one that reinforces its broader push toward discreet, always‑on privacy features.
Beneath the surface, the Ultra runs on a customised Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy. Samsung claims significant performance gains across the board, with CPU speeds up by 19 percent, NPU performance up by 39 percent and GPU output up by 24 percent. These improvements are intended to support AI processes that run continuously in the background, from real‑time translation to photo enhancement, without the stutter or battery drain that often accompanies heavy computational workloads.
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Thermal management has been reworked to match the increased power. A redesigned vapour chamber spreads heat more efficiently along the processor’s sides, helping the device stay cool during gaming, video capture or multitasking. Super‑Fast Charging 3.0 also makes its debut, taking the Ultra to 75 percent in around 30 minutes.
Camera Upgrades
Samsung’s camera system receives another round of upgrades, with the S26 Ultra’s wider apertures allowing more light to reach the sensor. The result is clearer, more detailed images in low‑light conditions, even when zoomed. Nightography Video has been enhanced to keep footage sharp and vibrant in dim scenes, while Super Steady now includes a horizontal lock option to maintain level framing on uneven ground or during fast movement.
For creators, the introduction of APV is a significant development. This new professional‑grade video codec promises efficient compression without sacrificing visual quality, even after repeated edits. Samsung is clearly targeting users who treat their phone as a production tool rather than a casual camera.
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The selfie camera benefits from improvements to the AI ISP, producing more natural skin tones. Samsung also claimes it offers better detail in mixed lighting. Editing tools have been streamlined, with AI‑powered adjustments integrated into familiar workflows so users can make quick changes without specialist knowledge.
AI that edits, organises and anticipates
Photo Assist is one of the most striking additions to the S26 series. Users can describe the changes they want, and the phone will handle the rest. Turning day into night, restoring missing parts of objects or cleaning up clothing are all possible. The phone can even change outfits in photos. Edits are continuous and reversible, making the process feel more like refining than committing.
Document Scan has also been upgraded. It removes creases, fingers and distortions automatically, then groups multiple images into a single PDF. It is a practical example of Samsung’s broader AI philosophy: small, frequent tasks made simpler through automation.
Proactive Assistance
Samsung’s biggest shift is in how the phone anticipates user needs. Galaxy AI is designed to reduce the steps between intent and action, surfacing the right tools at the right moment. Now Nudge offers timely suggestions, such as surfacing trip photos when someone asks for them or checking your calendar when a message mentions a meeting.
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Now Brief has become more proactive and personalised. It highlights reminders for reservations, travel updates and other important events based on personal context. Samsung wants the phone to feel attentive without being intrusive.
Pricing, colours and availability
Galaxy S26 series will be available for pre‑order from 25 February and launches on 11 March. Colour options include Cobalt Violet, White, Black and Sky Blue, with Pink Gold and Silver Shadow available exclusively through Samsung.com.
Pricing begins at:
- Galaxy S26: €1019 (256GB)
- Galaxy S26+: €1289 (256GB)
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: €1499
