Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S26 series today at an event in San Francisco, featuring three new smartphone models – the Galaxy S26 Ultra, S26+, and S26 – alongside the Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro earbuds. Preorders for the devices began immediately following the presentation.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra leads the lineup with a starting price of $1299, while the S26+ is offered at $1099, and the standard S26 model retails for $899. The new earbuds, the Galaxy Buds4, are priced at $179, and the Buds4 Pro are available for $249. Samsung emphasized the integration of its Galaxy AI capabilities across the new series, aiming for a more intuitive user experience.
A key hardware update for the S26 Ultra is the introduction of a “Privacy Screen,” designed to significantly reduce the viewing angle of the display, enhancing privacy in public settings. The S26 Ultra also features a shift in materials, moving from a titanium frame to aluminum, resulting in a thinner (7.9mm compared to the S25 Ultra’s 8.2mm) and lighter (214g versus 218g) device. The corner radius of the S26 Ultra has been adjusted to align with the S26+ and S26, creating a more consistent design aesthetic across the family.
The entire S26 lineup incorporates a redesigned camera bump, mirroring the design of the S25 Edge, with metal-rimmed lenses protruding from a pill-shaped housing. The Galaxy S26 series is powered by either a customized chipset or the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (in U.S. Models) and Exynos 2600 (in other regions). Samsung highlighted the industry-leading camera system, designed to streamline the process of capturing, editing, and sharing content.
Samsung described the Galaxy S26 series as its “third-generation AI phones,” with the AI features operating in the background to handle complex tasks and improve efficiency. The company also touted the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s performance, stating it features the most powerful hardware to date in the Galaxy S series.
