Samsung Galaxy S26: Unpacked Event, AI Features & New Privacy Tools
Samsung Electronics will unveil its next generation of Galaxy devices at an event in San Francisco on February 25, the company announced Tuesday. The event, dubbed Galaxy Unpacked, will showcase the new Galaxy S26 series, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence integration.
Samsung invited members of the press to the event, stating the new phones are “built to simplify everyday interactions, inspire confidence and produce Galaxy AI feel seamlessly integrated from the moment it’s in hand.” The company plans a livestream of the event, beginning at 10 a.m. PT, 1 p.m. EST, 6 p.m. GMT and 7 p.m. CET, accessible via Samsung.com, Samsung Newsroom, and the company’s YouTube channel.
A key feature teased by Samsung is a privacy display planned for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. This functionality will allow users to shield portions of the screen from view, protecting sensitive information from onlookers – for example, concealing notification content.
The flagship Galaxy S26 model is expected to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Elite Gen 5 processor in the U.S. And China. Elsewhere, Samsung is anticipated to utilize its own Exynos 2600 processor. While historically Snapdragon processors have demonstrated superior performance and thermal efficiency compared to Exynos chips, the gap between the two has reportedly narrowed in recent generations.
According to reports, the S26 will incorporate a 5,100 mAh battery and support both 60W wired charging and 25W wireless charging capabilities.
Beyond smartphones, Samsung is also expected to introduce the Galaxy Buds 4 wireless earbuds at the event. The company intends to redesign the earbuds, moving away from the aesthetic of the previous generation, which drew comparisons to Apple’s AirPods.
Samsung is currently offering a promotional incentive for those who pre-register their interest in the new devices. Pre-registration secures a $30 credit applicable to other Samsung products, even without a subsequent purchase of the new devices. Those who pre-register and then pre-order a new device will receive an increased credit of $150, without the requirement of a trade-in.
Galaxy Unpacked events have been held annually since 2009, initially as Samsung Mobile Unpacked. The events have rotated between locations including Barcelona, New York City, and San Francisco. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Samsung held the event virtually for the first time, garnering over 56 million views.