Samsung unveils Galaxy S26 series and Buds 4 family; pre-orders open ahead of March 11 launch
Samsung announced new smartphones and earbuds today, rolling out the Galaxy S26 family alongside the Galaxy Buds 4 lineup. The announcements matter because they mark the brand’s consistent February product cycle and introduce higher base storage, a new internal chip with AI software features, and refreshed audio designs — all of which are available for pre-order today ahead of an official March 11 launch.
Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup: models, storage and AI features
Samsung is launching a full S26 lineup that includes the Samsung Galaxy S26, Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. All three S26 models now start at 256GB of storage, up from the 128GB base on the Samsung Galaxy S25 and Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus. The trio also adopts a new internal chip intended to deliver faster performance across tasks and to power new AI software features.
S26 and S26 Plus: modest hardware bumps and higher entry prices
The Samsung Galaxy S26 receives a slightly larger battery compared with its predecessor: a 4, 300 mAh cell up from 4, 000 mAh. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus gets a modest hardware tweak in the form of slightly faster wireless charging. Both the S26 and S26 Plus start at 256GB of storage, and that storage increase comes with a $100 price rise versus last year, with retail prices set at $899 for the S26 and $1, 099 for the S26 Plus.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: camera and charging improvements, price unchanged
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra focuses on camera improvements and faster wired and wireless charging. It starts at $1, 299, a starting price unchanged from last year’s Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra launch price.
Privacy screen and other software additions
A prominent new software-driven feature across the S26 lineup is a built-in privacy screen. Unlike traditional privacy filters that simply darken the display at off-angles, Samsung’s implementation is highly customizable: users can choose which elements are dimmed to onlookers, including notifications and password screens, among other interface pieces.
Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro: refreshed design and battery figures
Samsung announced two new earbud models: the Galaxy Buds 4 and the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. Both share a new design with smoother, rounded eartips, departing from the previous model’s sharp, triangular stem shape. The Buds 4 are the more budget-friendly option and do not use rubber eartips, resulting in a semi-open ear design similar to Apple AirPods 4; they deliver up to six hours of battery life plus an additional 30 hours from the charging case. The Buds 4 Pro are the premium pair with traditional rubber eartips and up to seven hours of battery life plus 30 more hours from the charging case.
Products not mentioned, summer expectations and ring legal uncertainty
Samsung launched a Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge last year, but the brand did not mention an Edge model during this event; it is unclear in the provided context whether there will be a Galaxy S26 Edge at this time. Samsung typically launches new Galaxy Watches, Z-Flip and Z-Fold models in the summer, and a second Galaxy Unpacked event in summer is expected for those devices.
The Samsung Galaxy Ring launched in the summer of 2024 and soon afterward faced a patent infringement lawsuit from Oura; Samsung filed a counter suit. Samsung has filed similar patent suits against other smart ring makers, including Ultrahuman, RingConn and Zepp Health, among others. The fate of the Samsung Galaxy Ring is more uncertain than some of the brand’s other products, and it is unclear in the provided context when a Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 might hit store shelves.
Availability and next steps for buyers
All newly announced products are available for pre-order today, with official launch and wider availability scheduled for March 11. Given the mix of hardware tweaks, higher base storage across the S26 lineup, refreshed earbuds and ongoing legal uncertainty around the Galaxy Ring, potential buyers should weigh the new features and pricing when deciding whether to pre-order now or wait for later availability and any follow-up announcements.
