Samsung’s S26 Pushes Easy-to-Use AI: Who Feels the Impact First as Phones, Buds and a Ring Face New Questions

Mo. Basuony

Published: February 26, 2026 8:58 AM ET

Samsung’s S26 Pushes Easy-to-Use AI: Who Feels the Impact First as Phones, Buds and a Ring Face New Questions

The immediate winners and losers are clear: everyday smartphone buyers see a larger base storage tier and new privacy controls, while earbud shoppers get refreshed options and ring owners face legal uncertainty. The samsung S26 family and two new Buds models are available for pre-order today and will launch officially on March 11th — changes that shift buying math, daily privacy and accessorizing choices right away.

Who feels the change first: Samsung buyers and accessory shoppers

Consumers upgrading from last year will notice a few concrete impacts immediately. Base storage for the entire S26 line now starts at 256GB (up from 128GB on the S25 and S25 Plus), and that shift carries a $100 price increase for the non-Ultra models; retail tags are $899 for the S26 and $1, 099 for the S26 Plus. Built-in privacy options and new AI features inside a fresh internal chip aim to alter everyday use—how notifications and passwords appear to onlookers is now configurable rather than simply blocked by a darkened screen.

Event details and what changed inside the lineup

The launch covers a full S26 roster: the Samsung Galaxy S26, Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. All three now start at 256GB and ship with a new internal chip designed for faster performance across tasks and to enable new AI software features. The S26 and S26 Plus received modest hardware tweaks: the S26’s battery increased to 4, 300 mAh (up from 4, 000) and the S26 Plus offers slightly quicker wireless charging. The S26 Ultra adds improved cameras plus faster wired and wireless charging, and it starts at $1, 299, unchanged from last year’s S25 Ultra price. Pre-orders opened today, with an official launch date set for March 11th. The brand has been launching phones and earbuds in February for more than five years now.

All S26 models: base storage raised to 256GB (from 128GB on S25/S25 Plus).
S26 battery: 4, 300 mAh (previously 4, 000 mAh); S26 Plus: slightly faster wireless charging.
Price shift: S26 $899; S26 Plus $1, 099; S26 Ultra $1, 299 (unchanged).
Privacy screen: customizable dimming for notifications, password screens and other elements.

Earbuds update: a new shape and clearer product split

Alongside the phones, the company introduced Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. Both models adopt a smoother, rounded eartip design that departs from the Buds 3’s sharp, triangular stem shape. The Buds 4 are the budget option and use a semi-open design without rubber eartips—similar in approach to Apple AirPods 4—and deliver up to six hours of battery life on a charge plus an additional 30 hours from the charging case. The Buds 4 Pro are the premium pair with traditional rubber eartips and offer up to seven hours of active battery life plus 30 more from the case.

Ring, other devices and the summer product rhythm

Not all product lines were front-and-center. The super-thin, super-light Galaxy S25 Edge launched last year, but the Edge was not mentioned during this event; whether a Galaxy S26 Edge will exist is unclear in the provided context. The company typically announces new Galaxy Watches, Z-Flip and Z-Fold models in the summer, so a second Galaxy Unpacked event is expected then for those devices. The Galaxy Ring, which launched in the summer of 2024, faces legal friction: the maker of a competing smart ring filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the company, and a counter suit has been filed in response. The brand has previously filed similar patent suits against smart ring makers like Ultrahuman, RingConn and Zepp Health. All that makes the fate of the Galaxy Ring more uncertain than other products; the reporter notes, "I'm not sure when we might see the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 hitting store shelves. "

Here's the part that matters: the storage bump and privacy controls change the baseline proposition for new buyers, while earbuds and ring developments broaden where accessory value and risk sit.

Buyers who prioritize storage now get 256GB by default, but pay roughly $100 more than last year for S26 and S26 Plus.
Users who share spaces—commuters, office workers—gain finer privacy control with customizable screen dimming.
Earbud shoppers can choose a semi-open, budget option (Buds 4) or a traditional, premium fit (Buds 4 Pro) with slight battery differences.
Owners or prospective buyers of the Galaxy Ring face legal uncertainty that may affect future product availability.

If you're wondering why this keeps coming up: the company has a pattern of February phone-and-buds launches and summer follow-ups for watches and foldables—expect that cadence to continue. A short timeline in context: S25 Edge appeared last year; Galaxy Ring arrived summer 2024; the S26 lineup and Buds announcements are available for pre-order today and will launch March 11th; foldables and watches are likely to return in a summer Unpacked event.

It’s easy to overlook, but the combination of a higher base storage, a customizable privacy screen and concentrated AI features signals a shift toward prioritizing daily convenience over raw spec wars. The reporter covering these launches has a background in phone, smartwatch and earbuds coverage and flagged these points as the key takeaways for shoppers weighing upgrades.