Samsung Launches Galaxy S26 Ultra With Built-In Privacy Display and New AI Features
Published: (February 25, 2026 at 01:01 PM EST)
3 min read
Source: MacRumors
Source: MacRumors
Device Overview
- Galaxy S26 – 6.3‑inch OLED display, the most affordable and compact model.
- Galaxy S26+ – 6.7‑inch OLED display, positioned between the base and Ultra models.
- Galaxy S26 Ultra – 6.9‑inch OLED display, premium model with S Pen support and the new Privacy Display.
All three phones feature OLED screens, but only the Ultra supports the S Pen stylus.
Built‑In Privacy Display (Ultra)
The Ultra’s Privacy Display reduces side‑angle visibility of the screen:
- Operates at the pixel level to control light dispersion.
- Can be configured for specific apps or actions (e.g., PIN entry).
- Offers partial and maximum privacy modes.
When viewed head‑on, the display remains clear; side viewers see a dimmed image.
Camera System (Ultra)
- 200 MP wide‑angle lens
- 50 MP ultra‑wide lens
- 10 MP telephoto lens – 3× optical zoom
- 50 MP telephoto lens – 5× optical zoom with up to 10× “optical quality” zoom
Additional features
- Nightography – enhanced low‑light video capture.
- Photo Assist – describe desired edits (e.g., restore missing elements, remove objects, change time of day, modify outfits).
- Creative Studio – generate AI‑based stickers, wallpapers, invitations from sketches, photos, or text prompts.
Performance & Battery
- Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
- CPU: ~19 % faster than the previous generation.
- GPU: ~24 % faster.
- Neural processing: ~39 % improvement.
- Updated vapor‑chamber cooling with thermal material on the processor sides.
- “ProScaler” AI feature improves image scaling for photos and videos.
- Memory: 12 GB RAM on most models; 16 GB RAM on the 1 TB Ultra variant.
- Charging: up to 75 % in 30 minutes (fast wired); wireless charging up to 25 W.
AI‑Powered Software Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Now Nudge | Suggests relevant photos or content to reduce distractions. |
| Now Brief | Daily AI‑driven briefing with personalized reminders based on context. |
| Circle to Search | Enhanced multi‑object recognition for locating items within images. |
| Call Screening | Identifies unknown callers, asks for purpose, and provides a summary. |
| Privacy Alerts | ML‑based notifications when apps with device‑admin privileges request sensitive data. |
| Private Album | Hides selected photos/videos without creating separate folders or requiring a Samsung account. |
| Bixby | Conversational agent for settings adjustments and troubleshooting. |
| Other Chatbots | Options to use Gemini, Perplexity, etc., via button press or voice command. |
| Background Processing | Allows AI agents to complete multi‑step tasks while the user works on other activities. |
Accessories
- Galaxy Buds 4 – Updated fit and sound quality.
- Galaxy Buds 4 Pro – Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive EQ, head‑gesture call control, and AI‑agent activation support.
Pricing
| Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|
| Galaxy S26 | $899.99 |
| Galaxy S26+ | $1,099.99 |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | $1,299.99 |
| Galaxy Buds 4 | Available for pre‑order (price not listed) |
Note: This article originally appeared on MacRumors.com. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung; purchases made through links may generate a small commission that helps support the site.