Everything You Need to Know About the New Galaxy S26 Smartphones

4 min read

As a tech nerd who has owned Samsung’s S series flagship phone since the Galaxy S22, I’m fired up about the Korea-based company’s reveal of the brand spankin’ new S26 series.

Unlike Apple, which expanded to a four-phone lineup with the iPhone 12, Samsung is sticking with its three-tier playbook: the entry-level Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra. Since the launch of the S24 two years ago, Samsung has been focused on ramping up generative AI features. This year is no different. There aren’t many significant generation-over-generation hardware changes, but Samsung is making up for it with cutting-edge tools and a new privacy display that keeps prying eyes at bay.

Here’s the full lowdown.

The Galaxy S26 has a slightly larger display than the Galaxy S25: 6.3 inches from 6.2 inches. It’s barely heavier, 167 grams vs. 162 grams. Other than that, the generation-over-generation screen specs are the same: a 120Hz refresh rate, 2,600 nits peak brightness, and a 2340 x 1080-pixel display.

Also worth noting is that this entry-level tier no longer starts with 128GB of storage, which is a relief because that holds darn-near nothing if you regularly take photos and videos. The Galaxy S26 now starts with 256GB storage, and comes in a 512GB model as well.

The battery on the Galaxy S26 got a slight bump from 4,000 mAh to 4,300 mAh, which may signal better power efficiency for the entry-level model.

As for the Galaxy S26+, the design has remained the same. There’s no difference in thickness nor heaviness. The screen is also a replica of the Galaxy S25+: 6.7 inches, 120Hz, 2600 nits peak brightness, and a 3120 x 1440-pixel display. The storage options mimic the Galaxy S25+: 256GB and 512GB. And unfortunately, the battery size hasn’t improved: it’s still 4,900 mAh.

The Galaxy S26 and S26+ models have the same camera hardware as their predecessors: a 50MP main camera on the rear, a 10MP telephoto (for zoomed-in shots), a 12MP ultrawide lens (great for sweeping landscape capture), and a 12MP selfie camera.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the New Privacy Screen

Say hello to the S26 Ultra, Samsung’s new top-of-the-line device. This is the one if you want to get your hands on the “world’s first privacy screen.” That should be more like the “world’s first integrated privacy screen.” This cool new feature makes the display look dimmed for those looking at it from an angle, like detachable privacy screen protector, without the need for an extra accessory.

Save for the aforementioned privacy screen, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra sports the same display specs as the Galaxy S25 Ultra: a 6.9-inch, 120Hz, 2,600 nits peak brightness, 3120 x 1440-pixel display.

On paper, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s camera specs also haven’t changed. You’re getting a 200MP main shooter, 10MP telephoto, 50MP ultrawide, and a 12MP selfie lens. However, according to Samsung, the cameras have upgraded low-light capture, so night photography should look better on the Ultra.

With few hardware changes across the S26 lineup, Samsung appears to be banking on its flashy new AI features to lure you into one of its three new models. Among the slew of new AI features announced, there were just a few that caught my eye.

Upgraded Photo Assist

The new-and-improved Photo Assist feature now lets you add objects from one photo into another. For example, let’s say you wish you could have your dog in a particular group photo. You can use Photo Assist to reconstruct the photo as if your pup was there with you the whole time. Cool? Sure. Useful? Ehh…

Galaxy AI lets you use natural language to make edits to your own photos.

For example, you can add subjects from another photo into a new photo, like your dog.

Use Gemini to Order Food or an Uber

With the Galaxy S26’s debut, Samsung leaned hard into agentic AI, which is a concept in which a bot can do tasks for you, on your behalf. Using Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, you can use it to book an Uber or order food via Grubhub and DoorDash.

For example, you can say to Gemini, “Get me a pepperoni pizza from the closest restaurant.” Gemini will find the best nearby option and ask you to confirm before it places the order. More app integration is coming later this year.

Unsurprisingly, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has the best set of features, including a privacy screen you can toggle on and off, super fast charging, and better low-light camera capture. There are no major hardware improvements, but Samsung compensated for it with lots of new AI features, from an assistant that orders food for you to AI that makes smart, relevant suggestions while you’re texting.

The Galaxy S26 series is only worth the upgrade if the Ultra’s privacy screen is a must-have for you, or you’re convinced that Samsung’s new AI features will make your life much easier. Until we get a unit in for testing ourselves, we can’t say for sure if they’re life-enhancing perks.

All three models in the Galaxy S26 series come in Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White, Silver Shadow, and Pink Gold. The Galaxy S26 starts at $899 and the Galaxy S26+ starts at 1,099. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will set you back $1,299.

The trio of devices will be available on March 11. Pre-orders start today.

Pre-order the Galaxy S26 now