Samsung unveils Galaxy S26 lineup, new Galaxy Buds and a renewed AI focus
samsung announced new smartphones and earbuds today, including the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, with all new products available for pre-order and an official launch set for March 11. I’ve covered Samsung and its competitors for years as part of my phone, smartwatch and earbuds coverage.
Samsung sets pre-orders now and pins March 11 for the official launch
The company opened pre-orders today for the new devices and confirmed the products will launch officially on March 11. Samsung has launched new phones and earbuds in February for more than five years running, and the company also said to expect a second Galaxy Unpacked event in the summer for the latest Galaxy Watches, Z-Flip and Z-Fold phones.
Full Galaxy S26 lineup: S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra with new chip and 256GB base storage
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 128GB on the S25 and S25 Plus, and include a new internal chip aimed at faster performance across tasks and new AI software features.
S26 and S26 Plus: battery, wireless charging and a $100 price bump
The S26 and S26 Plus carry a few modest hardware upgrades: the Samsung Galaxy S26 has a slightly larger battery—4, 300 mAh, up from 4, 000 mAh—while the S26 Plus offers slightly faster wireless charging. Both models start at 256GB, a jump from last year, which the company says is reflected in a $100 increase in starting price; retail prices are $899 for the S26 and $1, 099 for the S26 Plus.
S26 Ultra keeps its price while adding camera and charging gains
The S26 Ultra gains improved cameras and faster wired and wireless charging. The Ultra model starts at $1, 299, unchanged from last year’s S25 Ultra price.
Two new earbuds: Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro with redesigned eartips
Samsung announced both the Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. Both models share a new design with smoother, rounded eartips that contrast with the Buds 3’s sharp, triangular stem shape. The Buds 4 are positioned as the more budget-friendly option and do not have rubber eartips, using a semi-open ear design similar to Apple AirPods 4; they offer up to six hours of battery life plus 30 more hours from the charging case. The Buds 4 Pro are the premium pair, equipped with traditional rubber eartips and providing up to seven hours of battery life plus 30 additional hours from their charging case.
Edge model, Galaxy Ring and running legal disputes leave some product futures unclear
Last year Samsung launched the Galaxy S25 Edge, a super-thin, super-light smartphone compared with its other models, but the company did not mention an Edge model during this event, so it is unclear in the provided context whether there will be a Galaxy S26 Edge. The Samsung Galaxy Ring launched in the summer of 2024, and maker Oura quickly filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung. Samsung has filed similar patent suits against smart ring makers like Ultrahuman, RingConn and Zepp Health, and Samsung has in turn filed a counter suit against Oura. Those legal actions mean the fate of the Galaxy Ring is more uncertain than some of the brand’s other products, and I’m not sure when we might see the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 hitting store shelves.
