 |
| Samsung's latest flagship phones promise to make your life easier with smarter AI, better cameras, and next-level privacy features |
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Feb 25, 2026 – Samsung just dropped its Galaxy S26 lineup in San Francisco, and honestly? This might be the most interesting S-series launch in years. The company is betting big on AI that actually works in the background without you having to think about it, plus some genuinely clever privacy tech that goes way beyond slapping a screen protector on your phone.
The Phones That Think For You
The Galaxy S26 series—that's the regular S26, the S26+, and the beastly S26 Ultra—are Samsung's third-generation AI phones, and the company is finally figuring out what that actually means. Instead of bombarding you with flashy AI features you'll never use, these phones focus on reducing the steps between "I need to do this thing" and actually getting it done.
"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, Samsung's President and Head of Mobile. Translation: Your phone should just work, without you needing a PhD to figure it out.
Raw Power Under the Hood
The S26 Ultra is packing some serious hardware. Samsung partnered with Qualcomm for a customized Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform that delivers a 19% CPU boost, 39% better NPU performance, and 24% GPU improvements compared to last year's model. That's not just numbers on a spec sheet—it means your phone actually keeps up with you throughout the day.
To keep all that power from turning your phone into a hand warmer, Samsung redesigned the vapor chamber cooling system with better thermal management. They've also introduced Super-Fast Charging 3.0, which gets you to 75% battery in just 30 minutes. The regular S26 and S26+ run on Samsung's own Exynos 2600 chip and offer respectable charging speeds too (55% in 30 minutes for S26, 69% for S26+).
Cameras That Actually Deliver
Samsung's camera game remains strong. The S26 Ultra features wider apertures that pull in 47% more light on the main 200MP camera and 37% more on the 50MP telephoto lens. What does that mean for you? Clearer low-light photos, better nighttime video, and less blurry concert footage.
The upgraded Super Steady video mode now includes a horizontal lock option, making it easier to capture smooth footage even when you're running or hiking on bumpy trails. And if you're a serious content creator, the S26 Ultra is Samsung's first phone to support APV—a professional video codec that maintains quality even after repeated editing.
On the software side, Photo Assist has gotten smarter. You can literally just describe what you want to change in plain English—turn day into night, remove that coffee stain from your shirt in a photo, or restore the missing bite from that cake shot. Creative Studio ties everything together, letting you turn sketches, photos, or text prompts into stickers, invitations, or wallpapers without switching between apps.
Privacy You Can Actually See (Or Not See)
Here's where things get interesting. The S26 Ultra introduces Privacy Display—and no, this isn't just another anti-glare screen protector. This is hardware and software working together at the pixel level to control how light disperses from your screen.
When activated, your display stays crystal clear for you but becomes increasingly difficult for people sitting next to you on the train or in a café to see. Unlike those stick-on privacy films that make everything look terrible, this is built right into the display and automatically adjusts between portrait and landscape mode.
You can customize when it kicks in—entering passwords, opening banking apps, or just when you want some digital privacy. There's even Partial Screen Privacy for notifications and Maximum Privacy Protection when you really need discretion.
AI That Doesn't Get In Your Way
The Galaxy S26 series introduces Now Nudge, which surfaces suggestions at the right moment. Friend asks for photos from your trip? Your phone automatically suggests relevant pics from your Gallery. Got a meeting message? It'll check your calendar for conflicts. It's AI, but the useful kind that doesn't feel like you're talking to a robot.
Now Brief has evolved too, proactively reminding you about reservations, travel updates, and important events based on your personal context. Circle to Search with Google now handles multiple objects at once—spot an outfit you like, and it'll identify everything from the jacket to the shoes in one search.
Bixby has been upgraded as a conversational device agent, letting you navigate settings and features using natural language instead of memorizing exact commands. And if you prefer, the S26 series integrates Gemini and Perplexity for multi-step tasks across apps.
Fort Knox-Level Security
Samsung isn't messing around with security. Beyond the Privacy Display, the S26 series includes AI-powered Call Screening to identify sketchy callers, Privacy Alerts that warn you when apps try accessing sensitive data unnecessarily, and post-quantum cryptography extending to critical system processes.
Knox Matrix strengthens protection across your connected Galaxy devices, while the Personal Data Engine enables context-aware AI experiences safely. Everything sits on top of Samsung Knox, the company's multi-layer security platform that's been protecting Galaxy devices for years.
Oh, and you're getting seven years of security updates, so these phones should stay secure well into the 2030s.
Pricing and Availability
Pre-orders start February 26, 2026 in Malaysia, with some sweet launch deals. We're talking double storage, Samsung Rewards Points Booster, an instant RM700 rebate with selected bank cards, up to RM4,000 off with trade-ins, 30% off accessories, and 0% interest installment plans up to 36 months.
|
Participating
Models
|
Storage |
RRP (RM) |
Colour
Availability |
Promo |
|
Galaxy S26 Ultra
|
1TB |
RM7,999 |
·
Cobalt Violet
·
White
·
Black
·
Sky Blue |
·
Double storage and
Samsung Rewards Points Booster worth up to RM1,200
·
Instant rebate of RM700
with selected bank cards
·
Save up to RM4,000
with Galaxy Forever
·
0% interest
instalment plan of up to 36 months at participating banks |
|
Galaxy S26 Ultra
|
512GB |
RM6,799 |
||
|
Galaxy S26+
|
512GB |
RM6,199 |
||
|
Galaxy S26
|
512GB |
RM5,199 |
All models come in Cobalt Violet, White, Black, and Sky Blue.
The Bottom Line
The Galaxy S26 series represents Samsung's vision of what AI phones should actually be: powerful, intuitive, and respectful of your privacy. Whether the AI features deliver on their promises in daily use remains to be seen, but on paper, Samsung's finally moving beyond gimmicks toward genuinely useful tech.
The Privacy Display alone might be worth the upgrade for anyone who works with sensitive information or just values their digital privacy. Combined with flagship cameras, serious performance upgrades, and Samsung's commitment to seven years of updates, the S26 series looks like a solid evolution of the Galaxy line.
Now we just need to get our hands on one to see if it lives up to the hype.
- PakChaq Riq
#Samsung #SamsungGalaxy#GalaxyUnpacked #GalaxyUnpacked2026 #GalaxyS26#SamsungS26Plus #GalaxyS26Ultra #S26Series #SamsungGalaxyS26 #GalaxyAI #PrivacyScreen #EdgeFusion #60WCharging #Snapdragon8Elite #200MPCamera #MamuRiqReviews #PakChaqReviews #PakChaqHabaqJa