Samsung Electronics unveiled its Galaxy S26 series at Galaxy Unpacked 2026 in San Francisco on February 25, marking the company’s third generation of AI-powered smartphones. The new handsets, including the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, feature a suite of artificial intelligence capabilities designed to be more intuitive and proactive than previous iterations.
The launch comes as Samsung aims to significantly expand the reach of AI-enabled devices, with a goal of having 800 million such devices in consumers’ hands by the end of 2026. According to Samsung Electronics Australia mobile experience head Eric Chou, the company had over 400 million AI-enabled Galaxy devices at the end of 2025. This expansion plan follows a similar move by Apple, which recently announced a partnership with Google to revamp its Siri voice assistant with AI technology.
The Galaxy S26 series introduces several new AI features, powered by Google’s Gemini AI tool. These include call screening for unknown numbers, advanced photo-editing capabilities, and a document scanner. Gemini will also allow users to perform multiple actions with a single command, such as booking an Uber to a calendar appointment and receiving personalized suggestions based on encrypted personal information.
Samsung emphasized that the AI features within the Galaxy S26 models are intended for a broad audience, moving away from a focus on solely tech-savvy users. The Galaxy S26 Ultra boasts a new “Privacy Display” feature, which limits side-angle viewing without requiring a screen protector, a development resulting from over five years of research and development. The S26 Ultra is also 0.3 mm thinner and weighs 214 grams, offering a slimmer and lighter build than its predecessor.
The new series also features an industry-leading camera system designed to streamline the process of capturing, editing, and sharing content. Samsung stated that the Galaxy S26 series is engineered with its most advanced capabilities working together, including performance, the camera system, and Galaxy AI, to simplify everyday tasks.
The Galaxy S26 series will be available in Cobalt Violet, Black, Sky Blue, and White. The handsets are scheduled to launch in Australia on March 11.
