Samsung S26 Ultra Debuts With Privacy Screen, Improved Cameras and Same $1,299 Entry Price
Samsung unveiled a new Galaxy S26 lineup and updated earbuds today, with pre-orders opening immediately and an official launch set for March 11. The Samsung S26 Ultra is positioned as the headline model, carrying a new customizable privacy screen alongside camera and charging upgrades.
Galaxy S26 lineup and March 11 launch
Samsung introduced three new phones: the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus and Galaxy S26 Ultra. All of the new products are available for pre-order today and will launch on March 11. The company has followed a pattern of releasing phones and earbuds in February for more than five consecutive years, and this rollout continues that cadence.
Samsung S26 Ultra privacy screen and camera upgrades
The Samsung S26 Ultra adds a built-in privacy screen that can be customized to dim specific on-screen elements—notifications, password screens and other items can be selectively obscured from off-angle viewers. The Ultra model also features improved cameras and faster wired and wireless charging compared with the previous generation. The S26 Ultra’s starting price is $1, 299, unchanged from last year’s S25 Ultra price.
Storage bump, chip and AI features across the S26 family
All three S26 models now start with 256GB of internal storage, an increase from the 128GB base offered on last year’s S25 and S25 Plus. Samsung says the phones include a new internal chip that delivers faster performance across tasks and enables new AI software features. The rise in base storage has a clear market effect: the S26 and S26 Plus are each $100 more expensive than their predecessors, carrying retail prices of $899 and $1, 099 respectively.
Battery and charging changes for Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus
The standard Galaxy S26 receives a modest battery increase to 4, 300 mAh from 4, 000 mAh. The S26 Plus gains a hardware tweak that yields slightly faster wireless charging. Those incremental hardware changes accompany the broader updates in storage, processing and AI capability across the lineup.
Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro design and battery
Samsung also announced two new earbuds: the Galaxy Buds 4 and the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. Both move to a smoother, rounded eartip design that contrasts with the Buds 3’s sharp, triangular stem shape. The Buds 4 are the more budget-oriented pair and use a semi-open design without rubber eartips; they are rated for up to six hours of battery life plus 30 additional hours from the charging case. The Buds 4 Pro are the premium option, using traditional rubber eartips and offering up to seven hours of battery life plus 30 more hours from their charging case.
Edge model uncertainty, summer hardware expectations and the Galaxy Ring legal scene
Samsung did not reference a successor to last year’s Galaxy S25 Edge during the event, leaving it unclear whether a Galaxy S26 Edge will be released. The company typically times releases for Galaxy Watches, Z-Flip and Z-Fold phones in the summer, and a second Galaxy Unpacked event in the summer is expected for those devices. Separately, the Galaxy Ring—launched in the summer of 2024—faces legal hurdles: Oura filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung over the ring, and Samsung has filed a counter suit. Samsung has taken similar legal action against other smart-ring makers such as Ultrahuman, RingConn and Zepp Health in the past, which contributes to uncertainty about the Galaxy Ring’s future and the timing for any Galaxy Ring 2.
What makes this release notable is the combination of software-driven privacy controls and a baseline hardware upgrade—moving all models to 256GB while preserving the S26 Ultra’s $1, 299 entry point—signaling Samsung’s effort to push AI features and differentiated protections without raising the top-tier price. The immediate effect for consumers is clearer: higher base storage and new privacy options, with pre-orders already available and full retail availability arriving on March 11.
