Samsung S26 Ultra Leads Galaxy S26 Launch With Privacy Screen, Bigger Storage and New Buds
Samsung unveiled its latest Galaxy S26 series and new earbuds today, led by the samsung s26 ultra, with all devices available for pre-order and an official launch set for March 11. The timing matters because the company has released new phones and earbuds each February for more than five years, making this announcement part of a regular annual cadence.
Galaxy S26 family storage and pricing
The new lineup includes the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus and Galaxy S26 Ultra. All three models now start at 256GB of internal storage, up from 128GB on last year’s S25 and S25 Plus. That base storage increase has translated into higher entry prices for the two smaller models: the Galaxy S26 now starts at $899 and the Galaxy S26 Plus at $1, 099, each $100 more than their predecessors. All new products are available for pre-order today and will launch on March 11.
Samsung S26 Ultra privacy screen and design
The S26 Ultra adds a built-in privacy screen that lets users choose which screen elements to dim for onlookers. The feature can selectively obscure notifications, password screens and other interface elements rather than simply darkening the entire display, a change intended to preserve visibility for the phone’s owner while reducing exposure to nearby viewers.
Battery, charging and performance changes in S26 and S26 Plus
The standard Galaxy S26 receives a slightly larger battery — 4, 300 mAh, up from 4, 000 mAh — while the S26 Plus gains somewhat faster wireless charging. Samsung says the trio also uses a new internal chip to speed up general tasks and to power new AI software features across the models.
Camera and charging upgrades for S26 Ultra
The Samsung S26 Ultra adds improved cameras and both faster wired and wireless charging. Its starting price remains $1, 299, unchanged from last year’s S25 Ultra entry price. Because the Ultra’s base cost held steady while the other two models rose, buyers face different price trajectories across the family: enhanced base storage pushed up the S26 and S26 Plus prices, while Ultra pricing was maintained even as it gained new features.
Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro earbuds
Samsung also announced two new earbuds: the Galaxy Buds 4 and the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. Both models adopt a new design with smoother, rounded eartips, departing from the Buds 3’s sharper, triangular stem shape. The Buds 4 are the more budget-oriented option; they lack rubber eartips and use a semi-open ear design similar to Apple AirPods 4, offering up to six hours of battery life plus about 30 more hours from the charging case. The Buds 4 Pro are the premium pair, with traditional rubber eartips and up to seven hours of listening time plus 30 additional hours from their case.
Edge model, wearables and the Galaxy Ring litigation
Samsung did not mention a follow-up to last year’s Galaxy S25 Edge — a super-thin, super-light variant — leaving it unclear whether there will be a Galaxy S26 Edge. The company typically refreshes Galaxy Watches and its Z-Flip and Z-Fold foldables in the summer and expects a second Galaxy Unpacked event later this year for those devices.
Separately, Samsung’s wearables roadmap faces legal complexity: the Galaxy Ring, which launched in the summer of 2024, is the subject of a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Oura. Samsung has filed a counter suit, and the company has previously pursued similar patent actions against smart-ring makers including Ultrahuman, RingConn and Zepp Health. The combined legal activity has left the fate of the Galaxy Ring more uncertain than other products, and it is unclear in the provided context when a Galaxy Ring 2 might reach store shelves.
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What makes this notable is the breadth of changes across storage, privacy, audio and legal fronts: larger base storage and a customizable privacy display change the economic and usability calculations for buyers, new earbuds reshape Samsung’s accessory design language, and ongoing litigation clouds at least one wearable’s future. A reporter who covers phones, smartwatches and earbuds has tracked these developments alongside the company’s regular February launches, and a newsletter called The Selection is offered for readers seeking further coverage of technology and fitness topics including fitness trackers.
