Samsung S26 Ultra unveiled with privacy screen and AI features
Samsung announced new smartphones and earbuds today, including the samsung s26 ultra and the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. All the new products are available for pre-order today and will launch officially on March 11th.
Samsung S26 Ultra highlights
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is part of a full S26 family that also includes the Samsung Galaxy S26 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus. all three S26 models now start at 256GB of storage, up from 128GB on the S25 and S25 Plus. The S26 Ultra carries other upgrades: improved cameras and faster wired and wireless charging, and it starts at $1, 299 — unchanged from last year’s S25 Ultra price.
Storage and performance gains
Samsung said the S26 family uses a new internal chip designed for faster performance across tasks and to power new AI software features. All three models’ jump to 256GB of base storage contributes to a pricier entry point for the S26 and S26 Plus: both models are $100 more expensive than before, with retail prices of $899 and $1, 099, respectively.
Privacy screen and customization
A headline feature across the S26 lineup is a built-in privacy screen. Traditional privacy screens dim or black out a display when viewed off-angle; Samsung’s implementation is highly customizable, letting users choose what elements are dimmed to onlookers, including notifications, password screens and more.
Earbuds: Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro
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 pair 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 30 more hours with 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.
Launch timing and pre-orders
Samsung typically launches new phones and earbuds in February and has done so consistently for over five years now. All the S26 phones and the new earbuds are available for pre-order today and will be released on March 11th.
Edge model and summer plans
Last year Samsung launched the Galaxy S25 Edge, described as a super-thin, super-light smartphone compared to its other models. The brand did not mention an Edge model during this event, so it is unknown whether there will be a Galaxy S26 Edge at this time. Samsung typically introduces new Galaxy Watches, Z-Flip and Z-Fold phones in the summer, and the company expects a second Galaxy Unpacked event in the summer for those devices.
Galaxy Ring and legal uncertainty
The Samsung Galaxy Ring launched in the summer of 2024. Oura, maker of the Oura Ring, quickly filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung; Samsung filed a counter suit. The company has filed similar patent suits against smart ring makers such as Ultrahuman, RingConn, Zepp Health and others. Because of that litigation, the fate of the Samsung Galaxy Ring is more uncertain than some of the brand’s other products. "I'm not sure when we might see the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 hitting store shelves, " the reporter covering the launches wrote.
The reporter who covered the announcements has followed Samsung and its competitors for years as part of phone, smartwatch and earbuds coverage and provided the company’s details on pricing, storage, battery and features at the event.
Overall, the samsung s26 ultra and the wider S26 family bring larger base storage, an updated chip for AI features, a customizable privacy screen, incremental battery and charging upgrades and refreshed earbuds to Samsung’s early-year hardware cycle.
