Samsung S26 Ultra leads Galaxy S26 series as Samsung unveils AI-focused phones and earbuds
Samsung announced new smartphones and earbuds today, including the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. The samsung s26 ultra and two other S26 models are available for pre-order now and will launch officially on March 11th.
Full Galaxy S26 lineup, new chip and base storage increase
Samsung is launching a full lineup of S26 phones: the Samsung Galaxy S26, Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. All three models now start at 256GB of storage, up from 128GB on the S25 and S25 Plus. The family also includes a new internal chip meant to deliver faster performance across tasks and to power new AI software features.
S26 and S26 Plus: battery change, wireless charging and higher prices
The S26 and S26 Plus receive modest hardware updates. The Samsung Galaxy S26 gains a slightly larger battery — 4, 300 mAh, up from 4, 000 — while the S26 Plus gets slightly faster wireless charging. Both the S26 and S26 Plus now start at 256GB, a change that also raises their retail prices by $100; the two models are listed at $899 and $1, 099, respectively.
Samsung S26 Ultra: improved cameras, faster charging and unchanged starting price
The Samsung S26 Ultra has improved cameras and faster wired and wireless charging. The S26 Ultra starts at $1, 299, unchanged from last year’s S25 Ultra price. The samsung s26 ultra sits at the top of the lineup with those camera and charging upgrades highlighted at the announcement.
Built-in privacy screen that can hide notifications and password screens
A major software feature across the lineup is a built-in privacy screen. Traditional privacy screens make displays look dim and dark at an off-angle; Samsung’s implementation can replicate that effect but is highly customizable. Users can choose which elements are dimmed to onlookers, including notifications, password screens and other items.
Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro: new design and battery details
Samsung also announced the Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. Both earbuds share a new design with smoother, rounded eartips, a departure from the Buds 3’s sharp, triangular stem shape. The Buds 4 are the more budget-friendly option and do not have rubber eartips, giving them 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 model, with traditional rubber eartips and up to seven hours of battery life plus 30 more from the charging case.
Timing, the Edge phone question and the Galaxy Ring legal thread
Samsung has launched new phones and earbuds in February for more than five years running, and the newest devices are available for pre-order today with an official launch on March 11th. Last year the brand introduced the Galaxy S25 Edge, described as a super-thin, super-light smartphone compared with other models; the company did not mention an Edge phone during this event, so it is unknown whether there will be a Galaxy S26 Edge at this time. Samsung typically brings new Galaxy Watches, Z-Flip and Z-Fold phones in the summer and a second Galaxy Unpacked event is expected then for those devices.
The company’s wearables portfolio also has an ongoing legal dimension. The Samsung Galaxy Ring launched in the summer of 2024, and Oura, maker of the Oura Ring, quickly filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung. Samsung has filed similar patent suits against smart ring makers such as Ultrahuman, RingConn and Zepp Health, and Samsung has filed a counter suit against Oura. That litigation has left the fate of the Galaxy Ring more uncertain than some of Samsung’s other products. “I’m not sure when we might see the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 hitting store shelves. ”
Reporter background note
The reporter who wrote the event coverage says they have covered Samsung and its competitors for years as part of phone, smartwatch and earbuds reporting.
