Samsung Unveils Galaxy S26 Series: The Most Intuitive Galaxy AI Phone Yet

With powerful hardware working together with an industry-leading camera system and intuitive AI experiences, everyday tasks have never been easier and faster

Pre-order now from Samsung.com or a selected retailer and receive double storage worth £170 (512GB for the price of 256GB)

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced the Galaxy S26 series, featuring our most intuitive, proactive and adaptive Galaxy AI experiences yet and designed to simplify the tasks people do on their phones every day^[1]. 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 without compromising security or privacy.

Building on Samsung’s decades of innovation in display technology, Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces the world’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. 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.

“The most powerful phones should also be the easiest to use,” said Annika Bizon, Vice President of Product and Marketing for Mobile Experience at Samsung UK and Ireland. “The Galaxy S26 Series featuring our most intuitive Galaxy AI ever is designed to reduce the mental load people carry daily, with hardware and AI working together so tasks are handled in the background while privacy stays protected at every level. When technology removes friction, you start experiencing what it enables: more time, less effort and the confidence that your life stays yours.”

Powerful Performance Designed Around Everyday Use

Engineered for enhanced performance, the Galaxy S26 series is built on the most powerful hardware ever on a Galaxy S series, powered by a customised chipset. 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^[2] — delivers enhanced performance with significant gains across CPU, GPU, and NPU to support faster, smoother experiences that keep up throughout the day.

A CPU performance increase of up to 19%^[3] means Galaxy S26 Ultra responds more quickly and handle complex workloads intelligently, even when multiple tasks are running at once. A 39% improvement in NPU performance powers always-on Galaxy AI features that run seamlessly, allowing users to move between tasks without lag or interruption. A 24% boost in GPU performance delivers richer visuals and more fluid gameplay^[4].

To sustain this level of performance, Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces a redesigned Vapor 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. Galaxy S26 Ultra also brings Super-Fast Charging 3.0, minimising downtime by reaching up to 75% charge in just 30 minutes^[6].

Embedded into the processor, Samsung’s proprietary technologies enhance visual performance. ProScaler^[7] improves image scaling so photos and videos appear rich and clear 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 with four times the precision compared to the previous generation.

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 industry-leading 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^[8] allow more light to reach the sensor, delivering clearer photos with richer details in low-light conditions, even when zoomed in. Enhanced Nightography Video^[9] 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^[10] 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. Optimised for advanced creators, it ensures visually lossless video quality that stays true even after repeated editing.

Improvements to the AI ISP^[11] 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^[12] 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, making the process feel fluid rather than final.

Creative Studio^[13] builds on this simplicity by bringing creation and customisation into one integrated space, making it easy 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.

The Most Intuitive Galaxy AI Experience Yet

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 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^[14], 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 related Calendar entries and check for conflicts.

On the Galaxy S26 series, Now Brief^[15] has become proactive and personalised. It surfaces timely reminders for important events – from reservations to travel updates – based on personal context, helping users stay organised throughout the day.

Searching for information is also easier than ever. Circle to Search with Google^[16] 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^[17] 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^[18] and Perplexity^[19]. 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.

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 protection into every layer of Galaxy S26, keeping personal data secure while giving users transparency and control over how their information is used.

Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces privacy at the pixel level with the mobile industry’s first built-in Privacy Display^[20], 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 mobile 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^[21] 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 directly 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 further strengthen protection across connected Galaxy devices, adding PQC-enabled end-to-end encryption for more services such as eSIM transfers and clearer visibility into firmware update status across the ecosystem through Security Status of Your Devices.

These experiences are supported by Samsung Knox, the multi-layer security platform that protects Galaxy devices from the chip level up. 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 adds a physical layer of protection that isolates sensitive data inside its own secure 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 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^[22] with their voices, manage calls through simple Head Gestures^[23] on Buds4 Pro, and stay connected without breaking their flow. Customers who pre-order Samsung Galaxy S26 Series will receive 10% off the new Galaxy Buds4 Series^[24] from Samsung.com or Samsung Experience Stores.

Price and Availability

Galaxy S26 Ultra, S26+ and S26 will be available for pre-order from February 25 and will be available from March 11. The Galaxy S26 series features a unified design language across all models, with shared colour options including Cobalt Violet, White, Black and Sky Blue alongside the Samsung.com exclusive colours, Pink Gold and Silver Shadow.

Galaxy S26 starts from RRP £879 (256GB), Galaxy S26+ from RRP £1,099 (256GB) and Galaxy S26 Ultra from RRP £1,279.

Samsung.com and Samsung Experience Store offers^[25]

• Pre-order now and receive £170 off 1TB for Galaxy S26 Ultra^[26]
• Pre-order now and double the storage to 512GB for the price of 256GB, worth £170^[27] across Galaxy S26 series
• Trade-in a selected smartphone and receive £10-£437 off the Galaxy S26^[28]
• Trade-in a selected smartphone and receive £10-£542 off the Galaxy S26+^[29]
• Trade-in selected smartphone and receive £10-£607 off the Galaxy S26 Ultra^[30]

For service plans, additional offers, data plans and finance solutions, please visit samsung.com for more information.

New Galaxy Club

New Galaxy Club is an exclusive upgrade designed to put the customer first, delivering a future-proof Galaxy experience. For the Galaxy S26 Series, Samsung is offering a guaranteed 50% of your device’s price back when upgrading between months 12-15^[31], Samsung Care+ Accidental Damage Protection^[32] and the choice to spread costs over 24 months with 0% interest with Klarna^[33]

Enhanced Samsung Care+^[34]

Customers choosing the new Galaxy S26 series can also select Samsung Care+, Samsung’s official device protection service. Available across 17 European markets, Samsung Care+ offers Samsung customers a range of services, including accidental damage cover with unlimited repairs and, a seamless walk-in service, extended warranty, and theft and loss protection, to ensure total peace of mind for Samsung Galaxy users. For more information visit the Samsung website https://www.samsung.com/uk

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

SPECIFICATION TABLE

*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]Samsung account login and network connection required. Galaxy AI features are provided for free. Future releases may include additional advanced features that are offered as part of a paid subscription plan. Different terms may apply for AI features provided by third parties

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

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

[4]AP performance for NPU, CPU, GPU 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]60W Power Adapter sold separately

[7]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

[8]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

[9]Results may vary depending on light condition and/or shooting conditions

[10]Results may vary depending on editing method and/or shooting conditions

[11]Results may vary depending on light condition and/or shooting conditions

[12]Requires network connection and Samsung account login. A visible watermark is overlaid on the saved image to indicate it was generated by Galaxy AI. Accuracy of output not guaranteed.

[13]Requires network connection and Samsung account login. Accuracy of output not guaranteed

[14]Samsung account login required. Supported apps only. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed

[15] Samsung account login and network connection required

[16] Compatible with select languages only. Google Account login and network connection required. If Gemini UI or Google apps are in view: Google and Gemini / YouTube / Maps etc are trademarks of Google LLC. Works on compatible apps and surfaces. Results may vary depending on visual matches. Check responses for accuracy

[17]Samsung account login and network connection required

[18] Compatible with select languages only. Google Account login and network connection required. If Gemini UI or Google apps are in view: Google and Gemini / YouTube / Maps etc are trademarks of Google LLC. Check responses. Setup required. Compatibility and availability vary. 18+

[19] Pre-installed on Galaxy S26 Series devices. Requires network connection and a Perplexity account. To initiate Perplexity from the side button, users must assign it to the side button in device settings

[20]Requires manual activation in settings to function. Privacy Display feature is not AI-powered

[21]Feature needs to be manually activated

[22] AI features require compatible Samsung Galaxy phone. Requires network connection and Samsung account login

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

[24] Purchase from samsung.com and Samsung Experience Stores by 31/03/26. Discount applied automatically at checkout when eligible products are added to the basket. Only one discounted Galaxy Watch and Buds per full-priced product. Discounts can’t be used in combination with any other offer, including trade-in, price drops and voucher codes.

[25]Purchase from samsung.com and Samsung Experience Stories by 10/03/26

[26]Purchase from samsung.com and Samsung Experience Stories by 10/03/26

[27]Pre-Order from Samsung.com. Operates as a price discount: Buy the larger storage variant (Galaxy S26 Series 512GB) by 10/03/26 and pay the future price of the smaller storage variant (Galaxy S26 Series 256GB)

[28]Purchase from samsung.com and Samsung Experience Stores by 10/03/26. £10 value based on Galaxy Z Flip 5G 256GB in working condition. £437 value based on Galaxy S24 Ultra 5G 256GB. Values over £10 vary by model and condition. Only one trade in device allowed under this promotion. Charges apply if you don’t send us your Trade In device. T&Cs apply. Trade in discount capped at 60% of product price before discount.

[29]Purchase from samsung.com and Samsung Experience Stores by 10.03.26. £10 value based on Galaxy Z Flip 5G 256GB in working condition. £542 value based on Galaxy S24 Ultra 1TB. Values over £10 vary by model and condition. Only one trade in device allowed under this promotion. Charges apply if you don’t send us your Trade In device. T&Cs apply. Trade in discount capped at 60% of product price before discount.

[30] Purchase from samsung.com and Samsung Experience Stores by 10/03/26. £10 value based on Galaxy Z Flip 5G 256GB in working condition. £607 value based on Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G 512GB. Values over £10 vary by model and condition. Only one trade in device allowed under this promotion. Charges apply if you don’t send us your Trade In device. T&Cs apply. Trade in discount capped at 60% of product price before discount.

[31]Samsung will guarantee 50% of the original price you paid for your phone when you purchase between months 12 and 15 from the date you purchased with New Galaxy Club. Please note your phone must be in good working condition to be accepted. If you purchase with finance, 50% of price will be paid in a combination of settlement of the remaining balance of your loan, and either refunding or crediting you the difference. If you upgrade after month 15, we will only clear the remaining balance of your loan. If you purchased outright, if you upgrade between months 12 and 15 (only) 50% of price will be given by applying it as an upfront discount to the new device as part of the upgrade. If you upgrade after month 15, we will credit you with a fair market value for your device (at Samsung’s reasonable discretion).

[32]Samsung Care+ is brought to you by bolttech Insurance Services (UK) limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 832644). Claims are administered by bolttech Device Protection (Ireland) Limited registered in Ireland and underwritten by AmTrust Specialty Limited, authorised and regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 202189). Excess payable. Terms and conditions apply. Subject to eligibility. UK residents aged 18+. Excludes repairs for cosmetic damage

[33]18+ UK only. New Galaxy Club membership can be paid in full with credit or debit card, or through a credit agreement. Credit is subject to status and credit check, and involves entering into a credit agreement. Minimum 10% payment upfront required, followed by 24 fixed monthly payments. Charges may apply if your device is not in good working condition when it is bought back, as set out in the full T&Cs

[34]Samsung Care+ is available within 60 days of device purchase. Excludes cosmetic damage. Theft & Loss cover requires activation of Knox Guard and is limited to two claims per year. Excess payable. Subject to eligibility. UK residents aged 18+ only. Three months’ free cover applies to monthly plans. From month 4, the monthly premium will be charged on or around the same date each month as your cover start date. Samsung Care+ is brought to you by bolttech Insurance Services (UK) Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 832644) with registered office in 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, United Kingdom, WC1N 3AX, company house number 11187028 . The insurance is administered by bolttech Device Protection (Ireland) Limited, with registered office in in Block C 77 Sir John Rogerson Quay Dublin 2 D02 VK60 Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland, company house number 675680. The policy is underwritten by AmTrust Specialty Limited, authorised and regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 202189) with registered office in Exchequer Court 33 St. Mary Axe London UK EC3A 8AA company house number 01229676