S26 Ultra debuts with privacy screen and lighter design as Samsung opens pre-orders
Samsung announced a new Galaxy S26 lineup that includes the S26, S26 Plus and s26 ultra and opened pre-orders for the phones and new earbuds ahead of a March 11th launch. The releases raise base storage, add a built-in customizable privacy screen and introduce refreshed earbuds as the company pushes new AI features and faster charging.
Timing, pre-orders and the cadence of February launches
The company launched its phones and earbuds in February, continuing a run of new-device releases in that month for more than five years. All the new products are available for pre-order today, with an official launch set for March 11th. The maker also said it typically unveils Galaxy Watches, Z-Flip and Z-Fold updates in the summer and that a second Galaxy Unpacked event is expected in the summer for those devices.
S26 Ultra: improved cameras, faster charging and unchanged top-tier price
The S26 Ultra arrives with improved cameras and faster wired and wireless charging. It starts at $1, 299, unchanged from the prior generation’s top model price. The lineup’s new internal chip is billed as delivering faster performance across tasks and enabling new AI software features that are being rolled into the phones.
S26 and S26 Plus: battery, wireless charging and base storage changes
Samsung describes the non-Ultra models as carrying modest hardware upgrades. The S26 has a slightly larger battery — 4, 300 mAh, up from 4, 000 mAh — while the S26 Plus gets slightly faster wireless charging. All three S26 models now start at 256GB of storage, up from 128GB on the S25 and S25 Plus, and that storage increase makes the S26 and S26 Plus $100 more expensive than last year, with retail prices of $899 and $1, 099, respectively.
Built-in privacy screen and granular dimming controls
A major new feature across the lineup is a built-in privacy screen. Traditional privacy screens make displays look dim or dark when viewed off-angle; Samsung’s implementation can replicate that effect but adds granular controls so users can choose which elements appear dimmed to onlookers, including notifications, password screens and more.
Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro: new shapes, battery life and design shifts
The company also introduced Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. Both earbuds use a new design with smoother, rounded eartips that depart from the Buds 3’s sharp, triangular stem shape. The Buds 4 are the more budget-friendly option and lack rubber eartips, making them a semi-open ear design similar to another mainstream earbud model; they are rated for up to six hours of battery life plus 30 more hours from the charging case. The Buds 4 Pro are positioned as the premium pair, with traditional rubber eartips and up to seven hours of battery life plus 30 additional hours from the charging case.
S25 Edge, the Galaxy Ring and legal uncertainty for future rings
Last year’s S25 Edge was highlighted as a super-thin, super-light smartphone relative to other models, but the brand did not mention an Edge variant at this event, leaving it unclear in the provided context whether there will be a Galaxy S26 Edge. The Galaxy Ring, which launched in the summer of 2024, faces legal uncertainty: Oura, the maker of the Oura Ring, quickly filed a patent infringement lawsuit over the device, and the company in turn has faced similar patent suits from the maker against smart ring makers such as Ultrahuman, RingConn, Zepp Health and others; Samsung has filed a counter suit against Oura. The article notes that the fate of the Galaxy Ring is more uncertain than some other products, and the writer says, “I’m not sure when we might see the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 hitting store shelves. ”
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Reporter note and newsletter invitation
The writer notes having covered Samsung and its competitors for years as part of phone, smartwatch and earbuds coverage and says they cover technology and fitness, including stories on fitness trackers. The piece also invited readers to sign up for a newsletter called The Selection to get more curated coverage and shopping guidance.
