L-R: CU Kim, President & CEO of Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania, Won-Joon Choi, President and COO of Samsung Electronics’ Mobile eXperience (MX) Business and Head of R&D Office, and Carl Nordenberg, VP & Regional Head of the Mobile eXperience Business for Southeast Asia and Oceania

Following the launch of the new Galaxy Z series at the Galaxy Unpacked event in London, Samsung leaders engaged with media from Southeast Asia and Oceania, sharing insights about how AI is evolving from a technology that people experiment with into one that is woven into everyday life.

Won-Joon Choi, President and COO of Samsung Electronics’ Mobile eXperience (MX) Business and Head of R&D Office, CU Kim, President & CEO of Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania, and Carl Nordenberg, VP & Regional Head of the Mobile eXperience Business for Southeast Asia and Oceania discussed changing consumer expectations in the region and what comes next for mobile AI experiences.

As Samsung introduced an all-new form factor this year, CU Kim revealed that sales of the Galaxy Z7 Series have increased by almost 15% year-on-year compared with the previous generation, indicating growing consumer interest in foldable experiences across Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Highlighting the region’s growing adoption of AI, CU Kim shared that AI usage among Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 users in Southeast Asia and Oceania has increased from 84% in August 2025 to 96% in June 2026^[1]. He noted that consumers often utilise AI for practical daily tasks, with Circle to Search, Now Brief and Photo Assist among the most frequently used features.

CU Kim, President & CEO, Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania

CU Kim said “The next phase of AI will not be about more features. It is about relevance”, emphasising that as AI works across the various Galaxy mobile devices and other Samsung appliances and screens, it will be able to better understand user needs and become more helpful and personalised over time.

Galaxy AI also currently supports 22 languages, including Filipino, Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese, reflecting Samsung’s commitment to delivering localised experiences for consumers across this diverse region.

The session explored how AI is changing the way people interact with their mobile devices as well, with CU Kim reiterating that in this region, mobile phones are the primary gateway to AI.

When discussing the future of mobile AI, Won-Joon Choi highlighted that the value of AI will be determined by how well it can remove friction in the background while giving users greater flexibility and choice.

“From a consumer’s perspective, there is no single AI that’s right for everyone. We want users to have the flexibility to use the right one at the right time, and that’s why we’re building Galaxy AI as a platform, with multiple AI agents working together to deliver the most seamless experience,” he added.

Building on the foundation established with the Galaxy S26 series, the Galaxy Z8 series and One UI 9 will provide an enhanced agentic AI experience through deeper system-level integration and more intuitive user controls. With multiple agents working seamlessly across apps, services, and device features, users will enjoy greater flexibility and choices for how they interact with AI.

Looking ahead, Won-Joon Choi shares that Samsung’s foldable portfolio is evolving to meet more lifestyles and needs. “Since we launched this category in 2019, we’ve studied closely how consumers interact with their foldables. Our broader, more diverse portfolio lets us better meet each user’s needs, and we are excited about what that will bring to Southeast Asia and Oceania,” he said. The Galaxy Z8 series will give users more ways to experience AI across productivity, content, creation and self-expression.

Through this 8th generation of foldables, Samsung is moving the category into its next chapter, one where foldables are no longer a niche choice, but a mainstream mobile experience that more consumers can confidently choose as part of their everyday lives.

As consumers in the region await the arrival of the new line-up, Galaxy Z8 Series will be available in Australia on 14 August.

[1] Samsung Internal Big Data Portal

To explore that vision, Samsung hosted a Health Forum panel, “Rewriting the Rules of Preventive Health.” Moderated by Dr. Hon Pak, Senior Vice President and Head of the Digital Health Team, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics, the session brought together leaders across nutrition, fitness, clinical research and AI to examine how technology can close the gap between knowing and doing in everyday health.

[PHOTO] (From left) Otávio Penatti, Kevin Duffy, Moderator Dr. Hon Pak. Rohit Ail, Kartik

The Paradox — and the “Missing Miles” of Health

Opening the discussion, Dr. Pak described a paradox at the heart of modern health: innovation and technology today has been transformational and accelerating, yet chronic disease continues to rise around the world.

“We live in the most measured era in human history — billions of people track their sleep, their stress, their heart rate every single day. And yet chronic disease keeps rising. More data, it turns out, hasn’t resulted in better health.”

He framed the disconnect as two “missing miles.” The first mile is detection and monitoring: much of what shapes our health happens outside the clinic, and until recently, continuous monitoring was neither available nor connected to the physician. The last mile is action: even after a diagnosis and a care plan, it is the individual who has to act day after day — and life is busy, and change is hard.

[PHOTO] Dr. Hon Pak

Samsung, Dr. Pak argued, is uniquely positioned to close both gaps. With technology that stays with people throughout their daily lives — across wearables, mobile phones, and a connected ecosystem — Samsung can understand not just raw biometric numbers, but the context behind them.

“We don’t just see a number — we see what’s around it: whether this is a moment you’re ready to change something, or a moment you need a bit of support. Being there, at the point where personal decisions actually get made, is hard for a hospital, or any other company, to measure or act upon.”

But no single company can do this alone. That, he said, is why Samsung is building Connected Care together with partners — closing the first and last mile to scale prevention, with AI as the enabler across both. He introduced the three focus areas that would structure the conversation: everyday behaviour; clinical credibility and privacy; and advanced AI and research.

Everyday Behaviour: Closing the Last Mile at the Dinner Table and the Gym

Diet and exercise are two of the biggest levers on long-term health — and two of the most within our control. They are also, Dr. Pak noted, where the gap between knowing and doing is widest.

Kartik Poria, Head of Product at Samsung Food, located that gap in a moment everyone recognises.

“It’s Tuesday, six o’clock. You’re tired, you’re staring into the fridge, and everything you know about eating well loses to whatever’s quickest. That moment is what we’re going after — because what you eat, day after day, is one of the biggest levers we have on preventing chronic disease.”

He described how Samsung Health and Samsung Food are coming together to tackle two halves of the same problem: Samsung Health surfaces what is happening beneath the surface — indicators such as BMI, the Antioxidant Index and the AGEs Index[1] — while Samsung Food’s global recipe library facilitates meal planning and its food intelligence reflect how people actually like to eat. Sitting on top is a nutrition experience grounded in behaviour change science rather than tracking alone — learning a person’s habits and working with them so the healthier pattern becomes the easier one.

“We’re not adding another thing to manage — we’re making the healthy choice the easy one, for the night you’ve got the energy to cook and the night you don’t.”

[PHOTO] Kartik Poria from Samsung Food

Turning to movement, Kevin Duffy, CEO of iFIT, described exercise as foundational to both physical and mental wellbeing, and explained how iFIT’s expert-led programs are becoming more accessible through Samsung Health.

“Exercise is vital for both physical and mental wellbeing — cardiovascular health, strength, mobility, sleep quality, stress management.”

Through Samsung Health, users can discover and subscribe to iFIT’s premium fitness programs, while iFIT workouts integrate with Galaxy Watch so users can track key metrics during guided sessions. With Fitness Index[2], they receive a holistic view of their physical fitness in a single, easy-to-understand score, with personalised recommendations. Looking ahead, Duffy pointed to Samsung’s Health Assistant as a way to bring a user’s Fitness Index, goals and activity history together to surface the most relevant workout at the right moment.

“Exercise is not just about being active — it’s about understanding your body, building sustainable habits, and having the right guidance at the right time. By combining iFIT’s expert-led experiences with Samsung Health’s connected insights, we can help more people make movement a meaningful part of their everyday lives.”

[PHOTO] Kevin Duffy from iFIT

But content and insights alone, Dr. Pak noted, don’t close the last mile. The harder question is how to move from engagement to activation. Samsung designs for real life, recognising that people slip and miss goals most of the time — and that those moments are precisely when timely, well-contextualised support matters most.

The real measure, he argued, is not how often the system nudges someone, but how many healthy actions actually happen — a doctor’s low-salt advice quietly showing up as items in a grocery cart, or a workout that meets a person where they actually are that day. Poria added that this is the true shift: from nudging people to changing the choice in front of them.

Clinical Credibility and Privacy: Trust Earned Through Evidence

Dr. Pak turned next to the question of trust — noting that wearable data is now something most clinicians have seen, but far fewer have been able to build into their day-to-day care. Closing that gap, he said, is a matter of evidence, workflow and trust.

Rohit Ail, Head of the Technology Incubation Lab at Samsung R&D Institute UK (SRUK), spoke to how his team works to generate clinical evidence in real-world settings.

“Our goal is to meet the standards expected by clinicians, researchers and regulatory bodies, and that means generating evidence in real-world clinical environments. This commitment builds on Samsung’s growing body of clinical research and validation evidence.”

He referenced ongoing collaborations across Europe, including partnerships with the NHS and clinical validation studies with leading hospitals. With San Cecilio University Hospital in Spain and Gemelli in Italy, Samsung is working on identifying and managing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk using AI and decision-support technologies; with Fondazione IRCCS in Italy, the focus is on understanding and addressing the late effects faced by adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors through AI-based digital phenotyping and a non-invasive, holistic approach.

On privacy, Ail noted that Samsung considers user data to belong to the user, with Samsung acting as custodian.

“Trust begins with protecting users’ data. Samsung takes a three-layer approach: Samsung Knox for device-level security, GDPR-compliant infrastructure, and alignment with the European Health Data Space framework.”

He added that SRUK has also developed a Decentralised Clinical Trial framework, in which participant identities remain under the control of healthcare organisations and data is pseudonymised from the outset.

[PHOTO] Rohit Ail from Samsung R&D Institute UK

Advanced AI and Research: Reading the Body’s Signals

If everyday reach and clinical trust are two of the three pillars, intelligence is what binds them together. Dr. Pak introduced foundation models as a genuine turning point — a shift from population averages to something truly personal.

Otávio Penatti, Head of the Health AI R&D Team at Samsung R&D Institute Brazil (SRBR), explained what a foundation model for health actually means.

“A health foundation model is an AI model that uses self-supervised learning to learn meaningful features from unlabeled biosignal data. At Samsung, we are advancing health foundation model research across multiple global research teams, combining expertise in biosignal intelligence, wearable AI, and personalised health insights. Building on the success of large language models, we can now interpret body signals not as isolated data points, but as a structured biological language. These signals can be measured through wearable devices in everyday situations, and by applying foundation models to understand these biological patterns, we have the potential to provide continuous, personalised health insights.”

[PHOTO] Kevin Duffy from iFIT

Three Focus Areas, One Goal

To close, Dr. Pak asked each panelist for a one-sentence vision of Connected Care in the era of AI five years from now.

• Kartik Poria (Samsung Food): “In five years, eating well won’t run on willpower — it’ll feel like having a chef and a dietitian in your pocket, turning what your body needs into what’s for dinner, day after day.”
• Kevin Duffy (iFIT): “A coach that knows your body and adapts every workout to who you are that day.”
• Rohit Ail (SRUK): “Care that clinicians trust and patients control — evidence-based and private by design.”
• Otávio Penatti (SRBR): “AI that understands the body’s language and acts before problems begin.”

Dr. Pak closed by tying the threads together: everyday behaviour, clinical trust and personal AI — three focus areas, one goal of closing the first and last mile to scale prevention while meeting people where they are.

“The future of health is connected, trusted and proactive — and it’s a road we’re glad to be traveling together.”

[1] Samsung Health is not a medical/therapeutic device. It is solely intended for fitness and wellness purposes only and is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions; or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease; or for the prevention or control of conception or pregnancy. Samsung recommends that you consult with your doctor or physician before participating in any exercise program.

[2] Fitness Index on Galaxy Watch9 is available on Android phones (Android 13 or above) and requires the Samsung Health app v7.0 or above. Samsung account login required. To use the feature, BIA and VO2Max each need to be measured at least once, along with 2 days of activity records and step count data. It is solely intended for fitness and wellness purposes only and is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions; or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease; or for the prevention or control of conception or pregnancy. Samsung recommends that you consult with your doctor or physician before participating in any exercise program.

On July 22, Samsung Electronics will host Galaxy Unpacked in London, U.K. — a city that moves forward, not by chasing trends, but by setting them.

Join us as we unveil the newest additions to the Galaxy portfolio, which has defined the foldable category. Combining intelligent capabilities with innovative form factors, the next generation of Galaxy devices are set to deliver more personal and adaptive experiences and set a new standard for the AI era.

The event will be streamed live on Samsung.com, Samsung Newsroom and Samsung’s YouTube channel beginning at 11pm AEST and 2 p.m. BST.

Stay tuned and make sure to register at samsung.com/au/unpacked for exclusive benefits, upcoming teasers, trailers, and updates ahead of Galaxy Unpacked July 2026.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today introduced its latest Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Galaxy Buds4, redefining what premium earbuds can deliver in both superior hi-fi audio and everyday wearability. Built to sound as good as they feel, the Galaxy Buds4 series pairs incredible sound quality with a more refined, computationally designed fit, bringing Samsung’s most advanced audio and wearability innovations together in one seamless experience. For the first time, Buds4 Pro features a wider woofer, combined with enhanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)[1] and a state-of-the-art enhanced Adaptive Equaliser(EQ), to help supply full-spectrum sound as true to the original recording — while intelligently adapting to real-world conditions. Thoughtful design updates, intuitive hands-free controls, and deeper AI integration further underscore Samsung’s commitment to earbuds designed for how people listen, move, and live throughout the day.

“Samsung understands that a truly premium audio experience combines technical sound quality with how that sound feels throughout a user’s day,” said Ikhyun Cho, Corporate VP of Mobile Enhancement R&D Team, Mobile eXperience. “With the Galaxy Buds4 series, our design philosophy was uncompromising, providing all-day comfort without sacrificing audio performance, because these are what consumers value most. We engineered our most powerful hi-fi audio and our most secure, ergonomic fit to enhance one another, delivering the best and most satisfying listening experience we’ve ever created.”

Computational Design Optimised for Enhanced Stability and All-Day Comfort

With the Buds4 series, Samsung has established a computational design based on more than hundreds of millions of global ear data points and over 10,000 simulations[2]. The Buds4 series features an ultra-sleek, ergonomic fit with smaller[3], better-fitting earbud heads to deliver a more secure, comfortable experience during all-day wear. The new stabilised blade includes a premium metal finish and an engraved pinch control[4] area designed to help users easily locate and adjust settings. The new, transparent, clamshell-type cradle makes storage and charging more intuitive and convenient— while also highlighting the refined blade design to deliver a stylish, high-quality listening experience on the go.

Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Buds4 offer distinct design architectures to meet different needs. Galaxy Buds4 Pro features a canal fit design that combines ultimate sound with maximum functionality. The open-fit design of Galaxy Buds4 delivers a comfortable, user-friendly audio experience. Customers also have the option to choose from several distinct colourways. Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Buds4 are available in White and Black with a refined matte finish, as well as an online-exclusive Pink Gold for Buds4 Pro, only available on Samsung.com/au.

Superior Hi-Fi Sound With Innovative Hardware Updates

Larger speakers offer better sound quality, and Buds4 Pro introduces a new wider woofer, featuring a new design that helps to make efficient use of space. By maximising the vibration area and minimising the speaker’s edge, the wider woofer increases the effective speaker area by almost 20%[5]. Combined with the tweeter, these features deliver natural, immersive audio with clean bass and rich treble that supports 24-bit/96kHz audio[6] — ultimately delivering high-fidelity sound as true to the original recording. These enhancements capture everything from the high, resonant sounds of violins to the deep, throaty pulses of double basses — details that were difficult to reproduce in earlier generations. Also, the outer microphone is strategically placed on the upper side of the metal finish to maximise Active Noise Cancellation functionality while minimising feedback from wind and other external factors.

Maximised Audio Experiences With Enhanced Adaptive EQ and ANC

Galaxy Buds4 series offers software updates that build on powerful adaptive sound capabilities users have come to love in previous Buds generations. Enhanced ANC is designed to tune out noise from heavy transit sounds to everyday background noise, helping to ensure an immersive audio experience that adapts to changing environments. For example, when commuting on a bus, train or airplane, Buds4’s enhanced Active Noise Cancelling reduces low-frequency engine and road noise while maintaining rich, balanced sound — allowing users to focus on music, podcasts or calls without distraction.

Enhanced Adaptive ANC/EQ[7] allows for full media immersion, minimising noise leakage by analysing the wearing conditions and unique ear shape of each user. Alongside dynamic frequency adjustments, this feature applies optimal ANC algorithms in real-time for peak noise-cancelling performance so users can enjoy fine-tuned sound experiences tailored to their individual needs.

When it’s time to make a phone call, Super Clear Call[8] utilises super wideband call technology to provide ultra-clear call quality and double the bandwidth of conventional Bluetooth calls. Whether users are cheering at a baseball game, dining in a bustling restaurant or spending time with their children at the playground, their voice remains crisp and clear, ensuring they sound as if they were speaking face-to-face.

An Enriched Galaxy Ecosystem Experience

For Galaxy users, the Buds4 series introduces integrations that enhance the Galaxy ecosystem experience. Users can initiate AI agents[9] — including Bixby[10], Gemini[11] and Perplexity[12] — with hands-free and voice controls, helping users stay engaged with their surroundings while maintaining control over their audio experience. Buds4 Pro allows users to access AI features without reaching for their phones, making it easier than ever to integrate AI into their everyday routines.

Galaxy ecosystem users can enjoy simple Buds setup.[13] Just by opening the cradle — without having to install the Galaxy Wearable app — Galaxy users can easily connect their Buds to their phone or tablet. Through the Buds shortcut menu or in the Quick Panel, users can control and customise the volume or EQ for the optimal sound experience.

Buds4 Pro also includes Head Gesture[14] controls to manage calls and engage with Bixby, allowing users to perform subsequent actions hands-free. Along with voice commands, hands-free controls such as these allow users to navigate their day without distraction, ensuring their daily activities remain seamless and uninterrupted.

Availability

The Galaxy Buds4 series is available for pre-order in Australia starting today, with general availability starting March 11.

To learn more about the Galaxy Buds4 series, please visit: www.samsung.com/galaxy-buds4-series/.

Galaxy Buds4 Series Specifications

[1] ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) is off by default, and the Pinch and Hold gesture for ANC can be configured directly in the phone settings for devices running One UI 8.0 and later. For devices running on earlier versions of One UI, configurations can be found in the Galaxy Wearable app.

[2] Based on global ear data research conducted by Samsung Design Innovation Center.

[3] Galaxy Buds4 only.

[4] Galaxy Buds are available to connect as Bluetooth Audio regardless of OS but to configure advanced settings on the Galaxy Wearable app, Galaxy Buds must be paired with a smartphone with Android 10.0 or above and minimum 1.5GB Memory.​ Advanced settings on the Galaxy Wearable app include Noise Control, Adaptive EQ, Pinch Control and software update. ​Some features are only available on compatible Samsung Galaxy smartphones.​ Android is a trademark of Google LLC.

[5] The exact number is 19.8% compared to Buds3 Series.

[6] Users can enable Ultra High Quality (UHQ) audio in the Buds4 Pro Settings, navigating to Sound Quality in the main menu and Advanced Quality Options in Effects.

[7] Available on Buds4 Pro.

[8] Super Clear Call (Super Wideband call) is available on Galaxy devices with One UI 6.1.1 or above. Additional devices may be supported in the future.​ Super Wideband (SWB) is available regardless of the Call App. SWB may not be supported depending on the mobile network between devices.​

[9] AI features require compatible Samsung Galaxy phone.

[10] Supports 9 languages: Korean, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified) and Japanese.

[11] Gemini is a trademark of Google LLC. Gemini Live feature requires internet connection and Google Account login. Compatible with certain features and certain accounts. Available on select devices and select countries, languages, and to users 18+.

[12] The Perplexity app comes pre-installed on S26 Series devices and can be removed at any time. To enable Perplexity to work with compatible Samsung apps and select third party apps, users must grant the necessary permissions in device settings. Functionality may vary depending on app compatibility, user permissions, and available features. Multi step task support may differ by app and use case.

[13] Requires a compatible Samsung Galaxy device, Internet connection and Samsung account.​

[14] Default is off. Users can turn on Head Gestures through the Galaxy Wearable app.

[15] Actual battery life may vary and depend on usage conditions such as function settings, playback file type, and Bluetooth signal strength. Play time may vary based on settings.

[16] May vary depending on the availability of the pairing device.

[17] May vary depending on the availability of the pairing device.

[18] IP rated for submersion in up to 3 feet of fresh water for up to 30 minutes (charging case is not water resistant). Not advised for beach or pool use. If the earbuds or user’s hands are wet, they must be dried thoroughly prior to handling. Damaged earbuds are not guaranteed to be water resistant.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced the Galaxy S26 series, powered by the most intuitive, proactive and adaptive Galaxy AI[1] experiences yet and designed to simplify the tasks people do on their phones every day. From managing plans and finding information to capturing and refining content, Galaxy S26 reduces the effort and number of steps required to get things done. As Samsung’s third-generation AI phones, Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra handle complex tasks in the background, allowing users to focus on results rather than how the technology works.

The Galaxy S26 series was engineered with Samsung’s most advanced capabilities working together as one: incredible performance, an industry-leading camera system and Galaxy AI. This provides a strong foundation that gives Galaxy S26 users the confidence to depend on their phone throughout the day.

Building on Samsung’s decades of innovation in display technology, Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces the Galaxy’s first built-in Privacy Display for mobile phones to unlock a new class of display experiences and reinforce Samsung’s commitment to privacy at a pixel level[2]. Galaxy S26 Ultra also delivers a customised chipset and upgraded thermal management that enable faster and more powerful AI — all wrapped up in the slimmest Ultra yet.

Together, these choices allow the Galaxy S26 series to deliver the most powerful Galaxy experience yet.

“We believe AI should be something people can depend on every day, designed to work consistently for everyone and without the need for expertise,” said TM Roh, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Head of Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics. “With the Galaxy S26 series, we focused on making AI feel effortless, working quietly in the background so people can focus on what matters.”

Powerful Performance Designed Around Everyday Use

Engineered for all-day performance, the Galaxy S26 series is built on the most powerful hardware ever on a Galaxy S series. Across the line-up, the Galaxy S26 series is engineered for AI performance, power efficiency and thermal management, ensuring demanding tasks run smoothly and consistently, so users can rely on their device when it matters.

On Galaxy S26 Ultra, a customised mobile processor — Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy[3] — delivers the best performance ever in its class with significant gains across CPU, GPU, and NPU to support faster, smoother experiences that keep up throughout the day.

A CPU performance increase[4] means Galaxy S26 Ultra responds more quickly and handle complex workloads intelligently, even when multiple tasks are running at once. An improvement in NPU performance powers always-on Galaxy AI features that run seamlessly, allowing users to move between tasks without lag or interruption. A boost in GPU performance delivers richer visuals and more fluid gameplay.

To sustain this level of performance, Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces a redesigned Vapour Chamber with thermal interface material positioned along the sides of the processor, allowing heat to spread more efficiently across a larger surface area. This improves[5] heat dissipation to keep the device cool and consistent, even during demanding activities such as gaming, multitasking and video capture. To support all-day use[6], Galaxy S26 Ultra also brings Super-Fast Charging 3.0, allowing for a faster charge.[7].

Embedded into the processor, Samsung’s proprietary technologies enhance visual performance. ProScaler[8] improves image scaling so photos and videos appear richer and clearer at a glance by sharpening text and fine detail while smoothing textures. Additionally, Samsung’s mobile Digital Natural Image engine (mDNIe) delivers more subtle and lifelike colours thanks to image processing.

Taken together, these advancements deliver dependable all-day performance, making every action feel effortless.

Galaxy’s Industry-Leading Camera System

The Galaxy S26 series brings the same focus on intuitive interaction to creativity and productivity, delivered through the best Galaxy camera system. With an approach that integrates capturing stunning photos and videos, editing and sharing into a single, seamless experience, creativity feels more natural and accessible even without professional tools or technical knowledge.

On Galaxy S26 Ultra, wider camera apertures[9] allow more light to reach the sensor, delivering clearer photos with richer details in low-light conditions, even when zoomed in. Enhanced Nightography Video[10] keeps footage clearer and more vibrant even in dim scenes, whether capturing concerts indoors or recording moments around a campfire after sunset. Video capture is further enhanced with upgraded Super Steady[11] capabilities, which add a horizontal lock option for greater stability and to make consistent framing easier to achieve, even with bumpy trails or fast-paced activities. Galaxy S26 Ultra is the first Galaxy device to support APV, a new professional-grade video codec designed to deliver efficient compression for high-quality production workflows. Developed with advanced creators in mind, it can help maintain high video quality even through repeated edits.[12]

Improvements to the AI ISP[13] now extend to the selfie camera, capturing more natural skin tones and finer detail in mixed lighting.

Editing photos and videos is just as easy and straightforward, with AI-powered tools built into familiar workflows so users can make changes quickly and unlock their creativity without design expertise.

With the upgraded Photo Assist[14] suite, users can simply describe what they want to change in their own words. Changing the scene from day to night is just a matter of asking. It can also add to images and restore missing parts of objects like a bite taken out of a cake. Personal details, such as a spill on clothing, can also be cleaned up with Galaxy AI’s new ability to change outfits in photos. Edits can now be made continuously, reviewed step by step, and easily adjusted or undone along the way, helping to make the process feel fluid rather than final.

Creative Studio[15] builds on this simplicity by bringing creation and customisation into one integrated space, making it easier to act on ideas when inspiration strikes. Starting from a sketch, photo or prompt, users can quickly turn ideas into polished visuals — from stickers and invitations to personalised wallpapers — and refine or share them without switching tools or interrupting creative flow.

The Galaxy S26 series also simplifies frequent visual tasks with AI-powered tools like the Document Scan, which removes distortions and distractions such as creases or fingers to deliver clean scans instantly. Multiple images can be organised automatically into a single PDF, making it easy to digitise receipts, forms or notes.

An Intuitive Galaxy AI Experience

The Galaxy S26 series is designed to make frequently used experiences feel straightforward and user-friendly, with Galaxy AI reducing the steps between intent and action. It works more proactively and seamlessly on the user’s behalf based on context, surfacing the right support at the right moment and automating tasks with minimal manual input. As the technology fades and handles tasks in the background, users can focus on the results.

With Now Nudge[16], timely and relevant suggestions help users stay in the flow without being distracted. If a friend asks for photos from a recent trip, Galaxy S26 automatically suggests photos from the Gallery, removing the need to search through albums or switch between apps. When receiving a message about a meeting, Galaxy S26 can recognise context from a conversation, integrating the Calendar and Gallery apps to provide relevant recommendations.

On the Galaxy S26 series, Now Brief[17] has become more proactive and personalised[18]. It surfaces timely reminders for important events – from reservations to travel, based on personal context, helping users stay organised throughout the day.

Searching for information is also easier than ever. Circle to Search with Google[19] on the Galaxy S26 series has been upgraded with enhanced multi-object recognition, so users can now explore more deeply on multiple parts of an image at once. If users spot a look they love, the feature also identifies everything from the jacket to the shoes, all in one search.

Galaxy S26 series features an upgraded Bixby[20] as a conversational device agent, making it more intuitive and easier than ever to interact with Galaxy devices. Users can navigate their devices and adjust settings using natural language, without the need for exact terminology or commands. Alongside Bixby, Galaxy S26 series integrates a choice of agents, including Gemini and Perplexity. Once set up, tasks can be completed with a single button press or voice prompt. Galaxy S26 can also handle multi-step tasks in the background, streamlining the process on the user’s behalf. For example, with Gemini, booking a taxi[21] can be as simple as asking, reviewing the details and tapping confirm. These agents support tasks such as searching, and carrying out complex tasks seamlessly across apps through natural interaction.

Together, these proactive, personalised and adaptive experiences lay the foundation for more agentic AI experiences — setting the stage for Galaxy devices to become trusted companions that understand and anticipate user needs.

Layers of Protection in the Age of AI

As mobile experiences become more personalised thanks to AI, protecting user privacy becomes even more critical. Samsung builds added protection into the Galaxy S26, keeping personal data safe while giving users a clear sense of how their information is used.

Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces privacy at the pixel level with the Galaxy’s first built-in Privacy Display[22], a breakthrough in display technology that fundamentally changes how privacy can be protected on a phone. Designed for everyday situations like transit, cafés and shared environments, Privacy Display goes beyond anything previously available on Galaxy devices — hardware and software working as one to protect privacy without compromising the viewing experience.

By controlling how pixels disperse light, the display keeps content clear, bright and comfortable for the user in everyday use, while limiting what others can see. Unlike traditional stick-on privacy films, Galaxy’s integrated Privacy Display preserves full viewing quality from all directions when off, and limits visibility for others from side viewing angles when activated, even when switching between portrait and landscape orientation.

Users can customise when it turns on — such as when entering PINs, patterns and passwords or opening selected apps — and adjust privacy levels depending on the situation. Partial Screen Privacy intelligently limits visibility for notification pop-ups, while Maximum Privacy Protection further obscures side views for added discretion, all with minimal impact on power or usability.

The Galaxy S26 series also brings smarter software safeguards that work quietly in the background. AI-powered Call Screening[23] identifies unknown callers and summarises intent, making it easier to safely manage calls. Privacy Alerts use machine learning to proactively notify users in real time when apps with device admin privileges unnecessarily attempt to access sensitive data, such as precise location, call logs or contacts. These alerts help users quickly understand when apps are seeking deeper access, so they can manage permissions with greater clarity and control.

Private Album, built into Gallery, lets users easily hide selected photos and videos without creating a separate folder or signing into a Samsung Account. To stay ahead of emerging threats, Galaxy S26 also extends Samsung’s innovation in post-quantum cryptography (PQC) to critical system processes, including software verification and firmware protection, strengthening device integrity for the future.

New updates to Knox Matrix strengthens protection across connected Galaxy devices, adding PQC-enabled end-to-end encryption for direct transfers like eSIM migrations and clearer visibility into firmware update status across the ecosystem through Security Status of Your Devices.

These experiences are supported by Samsung Knox, the security platform that helps protect Galaxy devices. For on-device Galaxy AI, Personal Data Engine (PDE) enables context-aware, personalised AI experiences. To keep this process safe, Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP) encrypts each app’s data, while Knox Vault[24] adds a physical layer of protection that isolates sensitive data inside its own hardware. Together with settings that let users choose how AI features operate, Galaxy S26 combines hardware and software to deliver a comprehensive, system-wide approach designed to help keep personal data protected.

These updates build on Galaxy’s existing security and privacy portfolio which includes Auto Blocker, Theft Protection, Private Sharing, Secure Wi-Fi and more. These layers of protection are designed to give users greater transparency, choice and control through Samsung’s continued mobile security innovation in the age of AI. And with seven years of security updates, Galaxy S26 helps keep these layers resilient over time — supporting longer, more confident use well into the years ahead.

Galaxy S26’s ease of use continues even when the phone is out of reach. The new Galaxy Buds4 series is a natural companion to Galaxy S26, extending everyday experiences beyond the phone while delivering rich and immersive hi-fi sound. When Galaxy S26 is paired with Galaxy Buds4, interactions can continue naturally in moments when using hands isn’t practical. Users can activate AI agents[25] with their voices, manage calls through simple Head Gestures[26] on Buds4 Pro, and stay connected without breaking their flow.

Availability

Pre-order for Galaxy S26 Ultra, S26+ and S26 will be available starting from February 26 and general availability will be available March 11 in Australia. The Galaxy S26 series features a unified design language across all models, with shared colour options including Cobalt Violet, White, Black and Sky Blue[27] alongside the Samsung.com/au exclusive[28] Pink Gold and Silver Shadow.

For added peace of mind, Samsung Care+[29] offers a device and mobile refresh program.

For more information about the Galaxy S26 series, please visit: Samsung.com/au

SPECIFICATION TABLE

*Specifications may vary by market.

*All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice.

[1] Galaxy AI features are currently free of charge, with any specific plans for premium AI services to be decided in close coordination with our partners. There are currently no plans to charge for Galaxy AI features, however different terms may apply to other AI features provided by third parties.

[2] Privacy Display feature controls the screen’s viewing angle to limit peripheral vision. Some changes in image quality may occur outside the viewing angle. When activated, some information may still be visible to others depending on the viewing environment, such as angle or brightness. Caution is advised when exposing sensitive information. Available for specific apps once they are manually enabled in Settings. Use of screen protectors may impact the performance of the feature and may not be suitable for users with vision or accessibility requirements.

[3] Snapdragon branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated.

[4] AP performance improvements shown compared to Galaxy S25 Ultra. Actual performance will depend on user environment, conditions and pre-installed software and applications.

[5] Vapor Chamber performance improvements shown compared to Galaxy S25 Ultra. Actual performance will depend on user environment, conditions and pre-installed software and applications.

[6] Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, the number of times charged and many other factors.

[7] Typical value tested under third-party laboratory conditions. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated capacity is 4,855 mAh for Galaxy S26 Ultra.

[8] ProScaler feature is supported on Galaxy S26+ and S26 Ultra models. Image quality can be enhanced up to QHD+, depending on the screen resolution setting of the device.

[9] 47% more light on 200MP Wide camera and 37% on 50MP Telephoto (5x Optical Zoom) camera on Galaxy S26 Ultra. Brightness improvements shown are compared to Galaxy S25 Ultra.

[10] Results may vary depending on light condition and/or shooting conditions including multiple subjects, being out of focus or moving subjects.

[11] Super Steady results may vary depending on editing method and/or shooting conditions.

[12] Playback, editing and export performance may vary depending on shooting conditions, device settings, and compatible software. Actual results may vary.

[13] Availability may vary by country, region, language device model, OS/One UI version. Actual results may vary.

[14] Photo Assist may require a network connection and Samsung Account login. Service availability may vary by country, language or device model. Photo Assist may result in a resized photo. A visible watermark is overlaid on the image output upon saving in order to indicate that the image is generated by AI. The accuracy and reliability of the generated output is not guaranteed.

[15] Creative Studio feature requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Service availability may vary by country, language or device model. The accuracy and reliability of the generated output is not guaranteed. Sticker sets only compatible with Samsung Keyboard and can only be shared via Quick Share feature with other Galaxy devices that have One UI 5.0 or later installed and Quick Share app version 13.8.50.x or later.

[16] Now Nudge feature requires a Samsung Account login. Available functions and features may vary by country, region, and language. Text message prompts currently available with Samsung Messages and certain third-party messaging apps including Google Messages and Google Chat. Based on availability at the time of product launch. May change without notice. Share photos in Now Nudge works by analyzing available image content. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.

[17] Now Brief feature requires Samsung Account login. Service availability may vary by country, language, device model, apps. Some features may require a network connection. The description of photos provided by moments may not align with the user’s intent. Notifications must be switched on to be used as the recalled data. Recalled data available from supported app notifications, Messages, Gmail and Samsung Wallet and data collected from Gmail is only applicable if the user consents to Personal Data Intelligent’s Gmail read permission. Recalled data for reservation details only available from reservation confirmation messages.

[18] Compared to previous models.

[19] Circle to Search is a trademark of Google LLC. Results for illustrative purposes only. Available on select devices and internet connection required. Works on compatible apps and surfaces. Result may vary depending on visual matches. Check responses for accuracy.

[20] Bixby service availability requires Samsung Account login and data connection. Available functions and features may vary by country, region, and language. Bixby only recognises certain accents and dialects of English (UK), English (US), English (India), French (France), German (Germany), Italian (Italy), Japanese (Japan), Korean (South Korea), Mandarin Chinese (China), Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Spain), and Spanish (Latin America). Other supported languages may be added in the future. Not all accents, dialects, and expressions may be recognised, and actual performance may vary depending on pronunciation, voice level, and the surrounding environment. Use of Bixby may be limited in certain situations such as when recording media (Video/Game/Voice), during calls, Maximum Power Saving mode, Emergency mode and Samsung Kids. Service availability may vary by country/service provider/language/device model/OS version. Bixby controls selected apps, other apps to be supported. To control SmartThings enabled devices with Bixby, first connect the devices to the SmartThings app. For more information, visit the SmartThings website (www.samsung.com/smartthings).

[21] Availability may vary by country, region, language device model, OS/One UI version.

[22] Privacy Display feature controls the screen’s viewing angle to limit peripheral vision. Some changes in image quality may occur outside the viewing angle. When activated, some information may still be visible to others depending on the viewing environment, such as angle or brightness. Caution is advised when exposing sensitive information. Available for specific apps once they are manually enabled in Settings. Use of screen protectors may impact the performance of the feature and may not be suitable for users with vision or accessibility requirements.

[23] Call Screening feature for Call Assist may vary by country, region and language. Feature may need to be manually activated in select regions.

[24] Samsung Knox Vault availability may vary by model including but not limited to Galaxy S Series, Galaxy A Series, Galaxy Tab S Series and more.

[25] AI features require compatible Samsung Galaxy phone.

[26] Default is set as off. User can turn on Head Gestures through the Galaxy Wearable app.

[27] Colour availability may vary depending on country or carrier.

[28] Exclusively available on Samsung.com.au/

[29] Terms and conditions apply. Samsung Care+ coverage, service type and promotion details may vary by country/region and deductible (service fee) may apply. To be eligible for Samsung Care+ promotion benefit, registration may be required. For detailed Samsung Care+ information, please visit https://www.samsung.com/samsung-care-plus/.