Main points
- The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is presented with new technologies such as Privacy Display, which makes confidential areas invisible to outsiders.
- The smartphone has powerful specs, including a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, a 200MP camera, and starts at $1,299.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra / PhoneArena
Samsung just unveiled its new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, at an event in San Francisco. The model attracts attention with several notable upgrades, although we learned about many of them in advance from numerous leaks. So what does the potential leader of the smartphone market of 2026 offer?
What features make the S26 Ultra stand out?
Despite its recognizable appearance, the device has received several unique technological solutions that have not been seen before in the mobile gadget industry. Users are invited to evaluate the balance between the elegance of the case and internal power, writes 24 Kanal .
The most talked-about feature of the Galaxy S26 Ultra is its Privacy Display technology. It’s not just a protective film, but a feature built into the screen that works at the pixel level. It automatically recognizes sensitive areas in apps, such as notifications or banking transactions, and makes them invisible to those looking at the phone at an angle – for example, in transport or in a cafe.
How the “privacy display” works: watch the video
Users can choose between standard and maximum privacy levels, although the latter may slightly affect image contrast. This feature is available exclusively on the Ultra model.
In this photo, the screen is on / Photo PhoneArena
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra can dim both the entire screen and a separate area / Photo 9to5google
The smartphone's design has undergone evolutionary changes: the body has become record-breakingly thin – only 7.9 millimeters, which is significantly less than previous generations. The device weighs 214 grams, making it lighter than some of the main competitors on the market, writes PhoneArena.
The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen has rounded corners for a more comfortable hold in the hand and supports an adaptive refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hertz.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra screen / PhoneArena photo
The hardware is based on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, adapted specifically for Galaxy devices. The smartphone offers from 12 to 16 gigabytes of RAM and up to 1 terabyte of storage.
For stable operation under load, Samsung has introduced a new evaporation chamber that dissipates heat 20 percent more efficiently.
The battery remains at 5,000 mAh, but now supports fast charging up to 60 watts, which allows you to charge the device up to 75 percent in 30 minutes.
Cameras
The smartphone's cameras have received a significant upgrade in terms of aperture. The main 200-megapixel sensor now has an f/1.4 aperture, allowing it to capture 50 percent more light than the previous model. This significantly improves nighttime shooting quality and allows you to get clear shots without unnecessary noise.
The camera block has received a slight redesign and is now surrounded by an island / Photo PhoneArena
In addition to the main camera, the system includes a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens and two telephoto lenses with 3x and 5x optical zoom.
The 12-megapixel front camera now handles skin and hair texture better thanks to new artificial intelligence algorithms.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra / Photo by PhoneArena
While we didn't see any larger sensors, Samsung decided to equip the 200-megapixel main and 50-megapixel ultra-wide sensors with wider apertures. The company says these changes allow the main camera to get 47% more light, and the longer telephoto lens to get 37% more. These changes are in line with Samsung's overall goal of providing better low-light photography.
With these changes, Samsung expects the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s camera to be able to process images more intelligently in low-light conditions, 9to5google notes. The company is still using AI to power its “night photography” feature set, which removes visual noise from photos and videos captured with each lens by targeting lens- and focal-length-specific noise patterns. The good news is that this targeted noise reduction will work on any Galaxy S26 device.
In terms of video-related features, the Galaxy S26 Ultra offers something new called “Super Steady.” This feature works by using real-time gyroscope and accelerometer data to fix the horizon. Samsung claims that this gives the S26 Ultra a better experience when shooting fast-moving scenes.
If such footage requires extensive editing, the Galaxy S26 Ultra offers the ability to record in the APV codec. In addition to the professional codec introduced in the previous model, APV preserves video quality during multiple edits. This is additional support for more professional exports.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra will use Galaxy AI tools for photo editing, just like its predecessor, and new features are expected to arrive with the One UI 8.5 update that debuts on the new phone.
Operating system and software features
The One UI 8.5 software shell focuses on artificial intelligence features under the general name Now.
- The Now Nudge feature provides contextual suggestions, such as suggesting free time on your calendar while discussing plans in chat.
- Now Brief creates personalized summaries of the day based on the user's messages.
- The Circle to Search tool has also been updated, which can now recognize multiple objects at once, for example, individual items of clothing on a person.
Price and availability
The price of the Galaxy S26 Ultra remained at $1,299 for the base model, while the lower-end S26 and S26+ versions have increased in price and now start at $899 and $1,099, respectively.
In Ukraine, smartphone prices range from 65,000 to 74,000 hryvnias, according to data on the website samsungshop.com.ua.
The smartphones will be available in several colors, including purple, blue, white, and black, as well as exclusive silver and rose gold for orders on the official website.
The official start of sales is scheduled for March 11, 2026.
Samsung Galaxy S26 series / Photo Samsung