Samsung unveils Galaxy S26 lineup with built-in privacy screen and upgraded earbuds
Samsung announced a new family of phones and earbuds, opening pre-orders today for the Galaxy S26 series and the Galaxy Buds 4 line, with the products set to launch on March 11. The release matters because the company pushed key hardware and software changes—larger base storage, a new internal chip with AI features, and a customizable privacy screen—that reshape the S-series baseline and pricing.
Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup
The S26 family includes three models: the Samsung Galaxy S26, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. All three now start at 256GB of storage, up from 128GB on last year’s S25 and S25 Plus. Each model uses a new internal chip designed to speed general performance and to support new AI software features.
Battery, charging and camera changes for S26 models
The standard Galaxy S26 receives a slightly larger battery—4, 300 mAh versus 4, 000 mAh previously—while the S26 Plus gets modest improvements in wireless charging speed. The S26 Ultra is highlighted for improved cameras and faster wired and wireless charging; it continues to start at the same $1, 299 price as last year’s S25 Ultra.
Pricing, storage and release timeline
The decision to raise base storage has had an immediate pricing effect: the S26 and S26 Plus are $100 more expensive than their predecessors. Retail prices are $899 for the S26 and $1, 099 for the S26 Plus. All new phones and earbuds are available for pre-order today and will launch officially on March 11.
Built-in privacy screen and AI features
Among the software changes is a built-in privacy screen that can dim specific on-screen elements for off-angle viewers. Users can choose which elements to hide from onlookers—examples listed include notifications and password screens—rather than applying a uniform darkening. What makes this notable is the move from one-size-fits-all privacy filters to a customizable approach tied into the phone’s display and software controls.
Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro
Samsung also introduced the Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, both adopting a new look with smoother, rounded eartips that depart from the Buds 3’s triangular stem design. The Buds 4 are positioned as the budget option; they use a semi-open design without rubber eartips and deliver up to six hours of battery life on the earbuds plus an additional 30 hours from the charging case. The Buds 4 Pro are the premium model with traditional rubber eartips and up to seven hours on a single charge plus 30 more hours from their case.
Edge model and broader product calendar
Last year’s Galaxy S25 Edge was a notably thin, light variant, but the company did not mention an Edge model during this event; whether there will be a Galaxy S26 Edge is unclear in the provided context. The company typically schedules new Galaxy Watches and the next Z-Flip and Z-Fold phones for a summer Unpacked event, so a second launch window this year is expected for those product lines.
Galaxy Ring legal disputes and product uncertainty
The Galaxy Ring, introduced in the summer of 2024, has become entangled in litigation. Oura filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung, and Samsung filed a countersuit. The company has previously filed patent suits against other smart-ring makers named Ultrahuman, RingConn and Zepp Health. Those legal actions leave the future of the Galaxy Ring uncertain, and when a Galaxy Ring 2 might reach store shelves is unclear in the provided context.
Across devices, the announcements mark a shift toward making flagship features—higher baseline storage, tighter privacy controls and AI-ready silicon—standard on the Galaxy S line, while carrying forward a split headphone lineup that differentiates battery life and fit by price tier.
