Samsung Electronics on Tuesday unveiled the Galaxy S26 series, positioning it as its “third-generation AI phone” with a new privacy-focussed display technology, deeper on-device intelligence, and performance upgrades across the board.

The line-up has the Galaxy S26, the Galaxy S26+ and the galaxy S26 Ultra. Samsung said the devices are built to handle “complex tasks in the background,” allowing users to focus on outcomes rather than navigating features.

“We believe AI should be something people can depend on every day, designed to work consistently for everyone and without the need for expertise,” said T.M. Roh, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Head of Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics. “With the Galaxy S26 series, we focussed on making AI feel effortless, working quietly in the background so people can focus on what matters.”

Availability and colours—512GB models at the price of 256GB (introductory offer)

The Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra will be available for pre-order starting February 25. The series comes in Cobalt Violet, White, Black and Sky Blue, along with Samsung.com-exclusive Pink Gold and Silver Shadow options. 

The Galaxy S26 (256GB) is priced at ₹87,999, while the 512GB variant costs ₹1,07,999, currently available with a ₹20,000 discount.

The Galaxy S26+ starts at ₹1,19,999 for the 256GB model. As an introductory offer, early buyers can purchase the 512GB variant at the same price.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is priced from ₹1,39,999 for the 256GB version, going up to ₹1,89,999 for the 1TB variant.

Samsung Care+ will offer extended coverage, including protection against accidental damage and access to certified expert support.

Performance gains led by a customised Snapdragon chip

A customised Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy processor is the heart of the S26 Ultra, which Samsung claims delivers the best performance in its class. According to the company, the Ultra model sees up to a 19% increase in CPU performance, a 39% improvement in NPU performance for AI workloads, and a 24% boost in GPU performance compared to the previous generation. The gains are aimed at supporting always-on Galaxy AI features and sustained multitasking.

To sustain this level of performance, the Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces a redesigned vapour chamber with thermal interface material positioned along the sides of the processor, allowing heat to spread more efficiently across a larger surface area to improves heat dissipation to keep the device cool and consistent, even during demanding activities such as gaming, multitasking and video capture. To support all-day use, the Galaxy S26 Ultra also brings Super Fast Charging 3.0, minimising downtime by reaching up to 75% charge in just 30 minutes.

On the display side, Samsung introduced what it calls the mobile industry’s first built-in Privacy Display on the S26 Ultra. Unlike external privacy films, the integrated solution controls how pixels disperse light to limit side-angle visibility when activated, while preserving full viewing quality when turned off. Users can customise activation for specific apps or scenarios such as entering passwords.

Camera upgrades focussed on low light and creators

Samsung has added further upgrades to its camera system to make capturing photos and videos a seamless experience. On the Galaxy S26 Ultra, wider camera apertures allow more light to reach the sensor, delivering clearer photos with richer details in low-light conditions, even when zoomed in. Enhanced Nightography Video and upgraded Super Steady capabilities, which add a horizontal lock option for greater stability and to make consistent framing easier to achieve, even with bumpy trails or fast-paced activities in dim settings. 

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the first Galaxy device to support APV, a new professional-grade video codec designed to deliver efficient compression for high-quality production workflows which is optimised for advanced creators. Improvements to the AI ISP now extend to the selfie camera, capturing more natural skin tones and finer detail in mixed lighting.  AI-powered tools are built into familiar workflows for editing photos and videos easily. 

With the upgraded Photo Assist suite, users can simply describe what they want to change in their own words. “Changing the scene from day to night is just a matter of asking. It can also add to images and restore missing parts of objects like a bite taken out of a cake,” said a statement from the company. Personal details, such as a spill on clothing, can also be cleaned up with Galaxy AI’s new ability to change outfits in photos. 

Creative Studio, meanwhile, integrates sketch-to-image, sticker creation, invitations and wallpapers within a single workspace. The company is also highlighting AI-powered document scanning that automatically removes distortions and compiles multiple images into a single PDF.

“The Most Intuitive Galaxy AI Experience Yet”

Samsung is leveraging  its Galaxy AI to make frequently used experiences feel straightforward and user-friendly. With Now Nudge, timely and relevant suggestions help users stay in the flow without being distracted. If a friend asks for photos from a recent trip, the Galaxy S26 automatically suggests photos from the Gallery, removing the need to search through albums or switch between apps. When receiving a message about a meeting, Galaxy S26 can recognize related Calendar entries and check for conflicts.

On the Galaxy S26 series, Now Brief helps with timely reminders for important events—from reservations to travel updates—based on personal context, helping users stay organized throughout the day.

Circle to Search with Google on the Galaxy S26 series has been upgraded with enhanced multi-object recognition, so users can now explore more deeply on multiple parts of an image at once. 

The Galaxy S26 series features an upgraded Bixby as a conversational device agent, making it more intuitive and easier than ever to interact with Galaxy devices. Users can navigate their devices and adjust settings using natural language, without the need for exact terminology or commands.

Alongside Bixby, the Galaxy S26 series integrates a choice of agents, including Gemini and Perplexity. Once set up, tasks can be completed with a single button press or voice prompt. The Galaxy S26 can also handle multi-step tasks in the background, streamlining the process on the user’s behalf. “For example, with Gemini, booking a taxi is as simple as asking, reviewing the details and tapping confirm. These agents support tasks such as searching and carrying out complex tasks seamlessly across apps through natural interaction,” the statement read. 

Security and post-quantum safeguards

As AI features become more personalised, Samsung is emphasising privacy protections. Beyond the new Privacy Display, the S26 series introduces AI-powered call screening that summarises unknown callers’ intent and Privacy Alerts that notify users when apps with device admin privileges attempt to access sensitive data.

The company said it has extended post-quantum cryptography protections to critical system processes, including software verification and firmware protection. Knox Matrix has been updated with PQC-enabled end-to-end encryption for additional services such as eSIM transfers, alongside improved firmware status visibility across connected devices.

Private Album allows users to hide selected photos and videos directly within the Gallery app without creating separate folders. The S26 series will receive seven years of security updates.