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Samsung's Galaxy S26 lineup has AI features for all, screen for your eyes only

Published: 26 Feb. 2026, 03:00 Updated: 26 Feb. 2026, 09:20

LEE JAE-LIM
[email protected]

A render of Samsung Electronics' new Galaxy S26 series [SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS]

Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S26 series lineup comes packed with a handful of snazzy new AI features, along with an Ultra-exclusive display that shields the screen from prying eyes, a first-of-its-kind technology for a smartphone.

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 at its Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco on Wednesday.

“Samsung Electronics has been at the forefront of making AI experiences accessible to everyone, while enhancing mobile experiences so that more users can experience the benefits of AI in their daily lives,” said Samsung Electronics CEO Roh Tae-moon. “The Galaxy S26 series is a lineup that allows anyone to use AI intuitively and effortlessly, built on a foundation of powerful hardware.”

Samsung Electronics CEO Roh Tae-moon holds up the new Galaxy S26 Ultra at Galaxy Unpacked in San Francisco on Feb. 25. [SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS]

Among the newly added features is Now Nudge, a function that offers real-time, personalized suggestions based on what users are doing on their phones. If a contact asks for photos from a recent trip, for example, Galaxy AI surfaces relevant images in a small pop-up, making it easier to share them without jumping between apps.

The AI can also step in during scheduling. When a message such as, “Are you available at 9 a.m. on Feb. 26?” comes in, the system checks the user’s calendar and immediately flags any conflicts through a nudge-style notification.

An upgraded Now Brief feature works in a similar way, providing reminders based on the user’s schedule.

The electronics maker has also enhanced Circle to Search. Users can now circle multiple elements within an image and receive comprehensive search results at once. For instance, circling an outfit in a photo can bring up information on the top, bottoms and accessories simultaneously, cutting down on repetitive searches.

The Photo Assist tool has received notable upgrades as well. In addition to stronger editing capabilities, it now supports text-based commands. A user curious about how a leather jacket might look on them can upload a full-body photo, add an image of the jacket and type, “Put this outfit on me.” The AI then generates an edited image showing the user wearing it.

A new Document Scanner improves the quality of scanned receipts and paperwork by removing wrinkles, shadows or even fingers caught in the frame. When scanning multiple pages, the phone automatically compiles them into a single PDF.

Samsung is also expanding its AI ecosystem with multiple agents. While Bixby remains the default assistant, users can opt for alternatives such as Gemini or Perplexity and activate them via the side button or voice command. In practical use, that means tasks like booking a taxi can be handled almost entirely by AI — users simply confirm the request once it is arranged.

On the privacy front, the Ultra model introduces the new Privacy Display, which limits visibility from side angles. Samsung said it spent five years developing the technology, which addresses growing concerns over screen privacy in public spaces.

The feature works by controlling how light spreads from the display’s pixels, reducing side visibility without affecting the direct viewing experience. Users can customize when it activates — such as while entering PIN numbers or using specific apps — and can even choose to conceal only notification pop-ups.

The series also adds Privacy Alerts, a machine learning-based safeguard that warns users in real time if apps attempt unusual access to sensitive data such as location information, call logs or contacts.

Another addition, Call Screening, allows AI to answer calls from unknown numbers, summarize the caller’s message and help filter out spam or voice phishing attempts.

Users who want more control over their personal logs can use the new Private Album feature, which makes it easy to hide selected photos and videos within the Gallery app.

Galaxy S26 Ultra featuring the new white color [SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS]

In terms of hardware, however, the upgrades are modest. The camera system remains largely unchanged from the previous S25 Ultra.

Under the hood, the base and Plus models will run on Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2600 processor in most markets, while select regions will receive Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The Ultra model will be powered exclusively by Snapdragon.

Prices have increased across all three models — the first hike since 2023. The Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at 1.79 million won ($1,250) for the 256GB version, while the S26 and S26+ begin at 1.25 million won and 1.45 million won, respectively.

The Galaxy S26 series will launch globally on March 11.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [[email protected]]