Every Samsung Galaxy Unpacked announcement, including the S26

Samsung recently wrapped up the Galaxy Unpacked 2026, and if there was one word the company wanted you to remember, it was “agent”.

With the launch of the new S26 line of phones, Samsung wants to make it clear that their smartphones will get the job done. There were several standout features of the S26 system that stood out during the AI-focused show.

Between the integration of agent AI, gamer-grade performance, and a novel privacy display, Samsung clearly wanted the Galaxy S26 Ultra in particular to feel like more than just an iterative improvement.

So, from the Galaxy S26 lineup to the new Galaxy Buds4 earbuds, here’s everything Samsung revealed at its February 25 event.

Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra: Samsung’s ‘most intuitive’ AI phone yet

At the center of the Unpacked was the new Galaxy S26 series – Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra – which Samsung calls “the most intuitive, efficient, and flexible Galaxy AI”.

All three phones run Android 16 with One UI 8.5 and are powered (in North America, China, and Japan) by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Galaxy chip. On the Ultra, Samsung says users can expect a 19% CPU boost, a 39% NPU boost, and a 24% GPU boost compared to the previous generation — performance gains clearly designed to keep up with the always-on AI.

Pre-orders open on Feb. 25, with general availability starting March 11. Pricing starts at:

• $899.99 for the Galaxy S26

• $1,099.99 for the Galaxy S26+

• $1,299.99 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra

Agent AI takes center stage

Samsung’s flagship this year is an AI phone that takes action for you.

The Galaxy S26 series includes multiple AI agents, including Bixby, Google Gemini, and Perplexity. Once configured, tasks can be completed with a button press or voice command, and multi-step actions can run in the background. Samsung showed off a few “real-world” uses of agent AI on the S26 like ordering pizza from GrubHub or Galaxy AI automatically viewing travel photos when a friend requests them (with the Now Nudge feature). Samsung has also expanded Search Circle with multi-object recognition, allowing users to identify multiple objects in a photo at once.

Samsung frames these AI features as a way to stop unnecessary app hopping so users can focus on what’s most important (usually something like spending more time with family instead of fussing over a delivery app).

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is releasing a first-of-its-kind Privacy display

While AI dominates the main note, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may be remembered for something else entirely: privacy.

Samsung says the S26 Ultra introduces the mobile industry’s first built-in privacy display: a hardware-level feature that narrows viewing angles to make it harder for onlookers to see your screen. In Mashable’s hands-on, Amanda Yeo described it as “the best innovation yet,” noting that activating Privacy Display darkens the screen significantly at side angles.

“High privacy protection” mode makes the display appear almost closed to anyone not looking directly at it. Unlike traditional privacy screen protectors, Samsung’s solution is integrated into the panel itself. When disabled, full viewing quality is restored; when enabled, users can customize privacy levels and even limit protection to specific apps or PIN entry screens.

Samsung describes it as privacy at the “pixel level,” and in an age obsessed with AI data security, that framing feels deliberate.

Galaxy S26 Ultra: Built for performance (and gamers)

Samsung is also positioning the Ultra as a performance powerhouse.

Features of S26 Ultra:

• 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with dynamic refresh rate of 120Hz and maximum brightness of up to 2600 nits

• Redesigned vapor chamber for thermal management during gaming and multitasking

• 5,000mAh battery

It also supports Super Fast Charging 3.0, reaching up to 75% charge in about 30 minutes. On the camera front, the Ultra sports:

• 200MP wide-angle camera

• 50MP ultra-wide

• 10MP 3x telephoto

• 50MP 5x telephoto

• 100x digital zoom

• 8K video at 30fps

Samsung also introduced APV, a new high-quality video codec for high-quality workflows.

Galaxy S26 and S26+: Slimmer, lighter, still AI-first

The standard Galaxy S26 and S26+ share the Ultra’s AI core, but with a more compact design. Both support variable refresh rates of 120Hz and the Galaxy’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The camera systems are led by a 50MP wide-angle lens, with 3x optical zoom and up to 30x digital zoom.

• Galaxy S26: 6.3-inch FHD+ display, 4,300mAh battery

• Galaxy S26+: 6.7-inch QHD+ display, 4,900mAh battery

Galaxy AI Tools: Scheduling, scanning, and screening calls

Samsung has expanded its AI programming toolkit across the board.

The advanced Photo Assist system allows users to describe editing in natural language — including changing the time of day, replacing missing objects, or changing clothes in photos. Creative Studio combines customization tools into a one-stop shop for stickers, wallpapers, and invitations.

Document Scan automatically removes distortions (such as cracks or fingerprints) and can merge multiple images into one PDF. On the security front, there’s AI-powered Call Screening that narrows down the intent of unknown callers and Privacy Alerts that notify users when apps with device administrator rights attempt sensitive access.

Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro: Hi-fi sound meets AI

Credit: Mashable / Joseph Maldonado

The new launch of Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro alongside the S26 series, with general availability from March 11. The Buds4 series supports the hands-free activation of AI agents, including Bixby, Gemini, and Perplexity, strengthening Samsung’s “agent” ecosystem story.

Highlights of the Buds4 Pro:

• Wide woofer with ~19.8% maximum speaker area.

• 24-bit/96kHz hi-fi audio support

• Advanced ANC and Adaptive EQ

• Head gesture controls for calls and Bixby interactions

Design-wise, Samsung has introduced a new aesthetic “blade”, developed using simulation data of the shape of the ear.