The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces a thinner, lighter design with enhanced durability, significant camera upgrades, a groundbreaking privacy display, and new AI features, available starting at $1,299.
Takeways• Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra offers a thinner, lighter, and more durable design.
• The device features substantial camera upgrades and a new per-pixel privacy display.
• Advanced Galaxy AI capabilities enhance user interaction and device functionality.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra features a refined design with new light armor aluminum and Gorilla Glass Armor 2, making it thinner and lighter than its predecessor. It boasts a 5,000 mAh battery with a more efficient processor, supporting 60W super-fast wired charging and 25W wireless charging. Key innovations include a per-pixel privacy display and advanced Galaxy AI features like call screening and context-aware 'Now Nudge', alongside a significantly upgraded camera system with wider apertures and improved low-light performance.
Design and Specifications
• 00:02:05 The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra features a new light armor aluminum chassis, making it thinner at 7.9mm and lighter at 214 grams, along with Corning Gorilla Glass Armor 2 for enhanced durability. It is available in six colors, including online exclusives, with storage options up to 1TB and RAM up to 16GB, and starts at $1,299. The device retains the S Pen and supports both a physical SIM card and eSIM.
Display and Charging
• 00:06:26 The S26 Ultra's display is a 6.9-inch 120Hz panel with up to 2600 nits brightness and anti-reflective properties, now featuring a proscaler for clearer images and 1 billion colors per pixel across all screens. It houses a 5,000 mAh battery and supports 60W super-fast wired charging, capable of reaching 75% in 30 minutes, and 25W super-fast wireless charging using magnetic accessories.
Camera Enhancements
• 00:09:25 The camera system receives significant upgrades, including a main 200-megapixel sensor with a wider f/1.4 aperture, allowing 47% more light, and a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and an f/1.9 aperture, offering 37% more light. New features include improved Nightography, an 'Expert RAW' codec for advanced editing, an 'Ocean mode' for underwater corrections with a separate case, and a horizontal lock mode for stable video capture.
New Privacy and AI Features
• 00:11:50 A standout innovation is the new per-pixel privacy display, which can be activated manually or conditionally for specific apps like banking, or even for notification pop-ups, blanking out content to prevent side-angle viewing. Additionally, the phone integrates new Galaxy AI features, such as enhanced Bixby with natural language processing, call screening, Creative Studio updates, audio eraser, and a context-aware 'Now Nudge' that suggests relevant information during conversations.