Galaxy Unpacked 2026: Samsung launches Galaxy S26, S26 Ultra, S26+ & more

Galaxy Unpacked 2026: Samsung Electronics has launched the Galaxy S26 series globally today, February 26, at its Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event held in California. The new range includes three smartphones – Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra, and is built around what the company calls its most intuitive and proactive Galaxy AI experience so far.

The series is Samsung's third-generation AI phones, which the company says are designed to "handle complex tasks in the background," allowing users to focus on how the technology works, rather than focusing on the results.

Pre-orders for the Galaxy S26 series have started from February 25.

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"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 TM Roh, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Head of Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics. "With the Galaxy S26 series, we focused on making AI feel effortless, working quietly in the background so people can focus on what matters," he added.

Galaxy S26 Ultra: Camera, Processor, Colour, Features, Price & More

The Galaxy S26 Ultra leads the line-up with a customised Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy. The company claims that it offers up to 19 per cent increase in CPU performance, up to 39 per cent increase in NPU performance and up to 24 per cent increase in GPU performance compared to its predecessor. Samsung has paired this with upgraded thermal management, including a redesigned vapor chamber for improved heat dissipation.

The Ultra model also supports Super Fast Charging 3.0, reaching up to 75% charge in around 30 minutes.

On the camera front, the S26 Ultra introduces wider apertures for improved low-light photography and enhanced Nightography Video. Super Steady video now includes a horizontal lock feature for better framing during motion-heavy shoots. It is also the first Galaxy device to support APV, a new professional-grade video codec aimed at advanced creators.

AI-powered editing tools have been expanded, including an upgraded Photo Assist suite that allows users to describe edits in natural language. Creative Studio enables users to generate visuals from sketches, photos or prompts without switching apps.

A standout addition is the world’s first built-in Privacy Display on a mobile phone, designed to limit side-angle viewing while preserving display quality. Users can customise privacy settings depending on context, including partial screen privacy for notifications and maximum protection mode.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra will be available in Cobalt Violet, White, Black and Sky Blue, along with Samsung-exclusive Pink Gold and Silver Shadow.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Price starts at Rs 1,39,999.

Galaxy S26: Camera, Processor, Colour, Features, Price & More

The standard Galaxy S26 shares the same AI-driven foundation as the Ultra, powered by Samsung’s customised chipset optimised for AI performance, power efficiency and thermal stability.

The camera system continues Samsung’s integrated approach, combining capture, editing and sharing in a single workflow. AI ISP enhancements extend to the selfie camera for improved skin tones and detail in mixed lighting.

AI features such as Now Nudge and Now Brief surface contextual suggestions, while Circle to Search with Google supports enhanced multi-object recognition. The device also integrates upgraded Bixby alongside agents like Gemini and Perplexity for conversational task management.

Security remains central, with Samsung Knox protection, post-quantum cryptography safeguards and seven years of security updates.

Colour options mirror the Ultra model. That means the Galaxy S26 will also be available in Cobalt Violet, White, Black and Sky Blue.

Samsung Galaxy S26: Price starts at Rs 87,999.

Galaxy S26+: Camera, Processor, Colour, Features, Price & More

Positioned between the S26 and S26 Ultra, the Galaxy S26+ carries forward the same Galaxy AI experience and performance architecture.

Like its siblings, the S26+ is engineered for AI-heavy workloads, ensuring smooth multitasking and consistent responsiveness throughout the day. The device includes Samsung’s ProScaler and mobile Digital Natural Image engine for enhanced visual clarity and colour precision.

The AI-powered Document Scan feature removes distortions and distractions automatically, while multi-step actions across apps can be handled seamlessly through integrated AI agents.

The S26+ also benefits from Samsung’s layered privacy protections, including Call Screening, Privacy Alerts and the Personal Data Engine secured by Knox Vault.

It shares the same colour palette as the rest of the line-up.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus: Price starts at Rs 1,19,999.

Galaxy Buds4: Key Details

Samsung also introduced the Galaxy Buds4 series as a companion to the Galaxy S26 range.

When paired with the S26 devices, Galaxy Buds4 enable voice activation of AI agents and hands-free control. Users can manage calls using Head Gestures on Buds4 Pro and continue interactions without reaching for their phones.

Samsung says the Buds4 deliver immersive hi-fi sound while extending AI-driven experiences beyond the handset.