February 26, 2026, 10:58 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Samsung unveiled the new models of the Galaxy S26 series at its Unpacked event in San Francisco. As always, the focus is on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which brings a range of innovations. In addition to design adjustments and improved charging speed, the Ultra model offers innovative features that set it apart from other models in the series.
Sleek Design and Faster Charging
The overall design of the Galaxy S26 Ultra is inspired by its predecessor and features a large 6.9-inch display. The LTPO OLED panel with 1 to 120 hertz is already known from the S25 series. The Gorilla Glass Armor 2 protective glass with anti-reflection is also carried over from the predecessor.
New are the more rounded corners and the switch from a titanium frame to aluminum. The device is slightly wider, taller, and yet a few grams lighter than the previous model.
The battery capacity remains unchanged at 5,000 milliampere-hours. However, a highlight is the improved charging speed. Samsung is integrating “Super Fast Charging 3.0” for the first time, allowing up to 60 watts. Wireless charging has also been increased to 25 watts, but the magnets for optimal coil alignment are still missing—a pity.
Improved Camera and Video Stabilization
The camera of the Galaxy S26 Ultra allows more light onto the sensors during night shots thanks to additional apertures. The main camera remains at 200 megapixels resolution but comes with a larger aperture (f/1.4 instead of f/1.7). Samsung has also enlarged the aperture on the five-times telephoto lens—from f/3.4 to f/2.9.
For video enthusiasts, the S26 Ultra offers new image stabilization. The “Super Steady Video” feature ensures that the horizon remains stable even during strong movements. Samsung promises that up to 360 degrees of rotation can be compensated.
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Privacy Display and Galaxy AI
One of the groundbreaking innovations is the Privacy Display, which enables screen protection. Users can deactivate individual pixels to shield the screen from prying eyes. This feature can be automatically activated in certain apps.
Additionally, Samsung has expanded the device’s AI capabilities. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy offers more power for local data processing. This especially accelerates AI tasks in Galaxy. These are intended to assist in everyday life, such as by suggesting potential calendar entries. The image processing also benefits from AI, allowing photos to be altered via text command.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra also integrates three voice assistants: Bixby with expanded functions, Google Assistant, and now Perplexity for complex internet searches.
Price and Availability
While the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus are becoming more expensive, Samsung is maintaining the starting price of 1,449 euros for the S26 Ultra’s 256-GB variant with 12 GB RAM. However, the higher storage versions are now more expensive. The 512 GB with 12 GB RAM now costs 1,649 euros instead of 1,569 euros, and 1 TB with 16 GB RAM is 1,949 euros instead of 1,809 euros.
The device is available for pre-order now and is expected to ship from March 6, according to Samsung.