Samsung Launches Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra: Starting Prices $1,099 for Plus and $1,299 for Ultra

Samsung has officially introduced the Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra, marking the latest additions to the S26 series. These models are packed with cutting-edge AI features and boast the exclusive Privacy Display, available only on the Ultra variant.

Discover the Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA93zbnoR4U

Galaxy Unpacked February 2026: Official Livestream (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA93zbnoR4U)

Design and Display Specifications

The Galaxy S26+ features a striking 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, delivering a remarkable resolution of 1440 x 3120. With a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz and an impressive peak brightness of 3, 000 nits—an enhancement from the S25+ model’s 2, 600 nits—this screen is designed for excellence.

On the other hand, the flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra packs a slightly larger 6.9-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display, also offering a sharp 1440 x 3120 resolution, 120Hz variable refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and peak brightness reaching 2, 600 nits.

The S26+ is fortified with Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass and is encased in a sleek frame measuring 158.4mm x 75.8mm x 7.3mm, which is slightly wider than its predecessor. The S26 Ultra, in contrast, is framed at 163.6mm x 78.1mm x 7.9mm.

A key aesthetic upgrade in the Galaxy S26 series is the redesigned rear camera layout, positioned within a dedicated “ambient island.”Notably, the much-anticipated Privacy Display, featuring Samsung’s innovative Flex Magic Pixel OLED technology, remains exclusive to the Ultra model.

Galaxy S26 Ultra Privacy Display 👀 pic.twitter.com/9yO80e9Gos

— Tarun Vats (@tarunvats33) February 25, 2026

This Privacy Display technology utilizes a liquid crystal layer that rapidly alters its refractive index, effectively blocking visibility from side angles and safeguarding user privacy.

Powerful Internals

Under the hood, the Galaxy S26+ is equipped with either the Samsung Exynos 2600 or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, depending on market variations. The S26 Ultra exclusively harnesses the power of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

The Exynos 2600 represents Samsung’s first System-on-Chip (SoC) created using the advanced 2nm GAA process and features a robust 10-core architecture:

1x C1-Ultra core operating at 3.80GHz
3x C1-Pro cores clocked at 3.25GHz
6x C1-Pro cores at 2.75GHz
Samsung Xclipse 960 GPU, based on AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture, with ray-tracing capabilities
Enhanced AI Engine featuring a 32K Mac Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for a 39% rise in performance
LPDDR5X RAM compatibility

The S26 Ultra boasts a newly designed cooling chamber complemented by a specialized thermal interface material (TIM), resulting in a 21% enhancement in cooling performance.

Both models come with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a base storage option of 256GB. Connectivity features include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, a 5G modem, and satellite connectivity capabilities.

Battery life also sees a strong offering; the S26+ retains the 4, 900mAh battery from the previous generation, with wireless charging support upgraded to 25W from 15W, and wired charging at 45W. Meanwhile, the S26 Ultra is equipped with a 5, 000mAh battery that can reach a full charge in approximately 30 minutes thanks to Fast Charging 3.0.

The front-facing camera on both devices comprises a 12MP wide-angle sensor capable of capturing 4K video at 30 and 60 fps.

The rear camera configuration of the S26+ includes:

A 50MP primary camera
A 10MP telephoto lens
A 12MP ultra-wide sensor

Meanwhile, the S26 Ultra ups the ante with:

A 12MP selfie camera
A 10MP 3x telephoto lens
A groundbreaking 200MP main camera
A 50MP ultra-wide lens
A 50MP 5x periscope telephoto camera

The camera technology on the Galaxy S26 Ultra facilitates significantly better low-light photography, attributed to the wider apertures on the 200MP and 50MP telephoto lenses, while the “Super Steady”functionality utilizes real-time gyroscopic and accelerometric data to ensure steady shots.

Key enhancements for the Ultra include:

An Advanced Video Professional (AVP) codec allowing for high-bitrate RAW video capture, providing greater post-editing flexibility.
Support for TILTA wireless lens controllers, traditionally used in professional camera setups.
Innovative lens and coating technology that accurately renders skin tones in photos.
The Camera Assistant app, designed to refine details in photos for a softer appearance.

Software Innovations

The Galaxy S26 series runs on the latest One UI 8.5, built atop Android 16. This new iteration introduces a revamped Bixby, vibrant iconography, and a three-dimensional depth effect characterized by shadows and gradients.

Noteworthy capabilities of the Expert RAW app include:

Utilizing computational photography to generate multi-frame RAW images for superior dynamic range and detail.
Manual adjustments for ISO, shutter speed, exposure, focus, and white balance across all lenses.
Storage of uncompressed image data in 16-bit linear DNG files, retaining extensive detail.

Samsung is enhancing its Galaxy AI framework to function as an orchestration layer within a multi-agent AI ecosystem, featuring:

A redesigned Bixby, integrated with Perplexity AI for natural language processing and real-time web searches. Users can activate this feature by saying, “Hey Plex.”
Integration of Google’s Gemini, which supports innovative tools like Gemini Live and the Nano Banana image generation tool.
Incorporation of OpenAI’s ChatGPT as an additional AI resource.

Other exciting AI features on the Galaxy S26 and S26 Ultra include:

An AI-powered screenshot analyzer
An Automatic Call Screener, which identifies and manages spam calls while providing live transcription on-screen.
Real-time Privacy Alerts notifying users when apps with administrative privileges attempt to access sensitive data.
Cross-app suggestions that enhance engagement, such as prompting users to share specific photos based on context.
Timely reminders for events and changes.
Retention of legacy features like the Private Album, seamless cross-app actions, ProScaler imaging, Audio Eraser, and Audio Trim.

Pricing and Release Details

The Galaxy S26+ (256GB) is priced at $1, 099, while the 512GB version is available for $1, 299. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is offered at $1, 299 for the 256GB model, $1, 499 for the 512GB variant, and $1, 799 for the expansive 1TB edition. Pre-orders are now open, with in-store availability commencing March 11.

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