Samsung Launches Galaxy S26 Ultra With Built-In Privacy Display and New AI Features

[MacRumors]

Samsung today announced its newest flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra. Samsung's latest devices are focused on AI, and Samsung says they have the most "intuitive, proactive, and adaptive Galaxy AI features" to date.

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The 6.3-inch Galaxy S26 is Samsung's smallest and most affordable smartphone, followed by the 6.7-inch Galaxy S26+. The 6.9-inch Galaxy S26 Ultra is the high-end model. All three devices feature OLED displays, but only the Ultra works with the S Pen stylus.

New to the Galaxy S26 Ultra is a built-in "Privacy Display" that makes it harder to view what's on the screen when looking at the phone from a side angle. It's clear when looking at it head on, but someone sitting next to you will have a hard time seeing your phone's display. Privacy Display works at the pixel level, controlling how pixels disperse light. It can be set to activate only for certain apps or situations like entering a PIN, and there are partial and maximum privacy options.

Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra has the best camera lineup, featuring a 200-megapixel wide lens, a 50-megapixel ultra wide lens, and two telephoto lenses. The 10-megapixel telephoto lens has 3x optical zoom, while the 50-megapixel telephoto lens features 5x optical zoom and 10x "optical quality" zoom.

There's a new Nightography feature for clearer video in low lighting conditions, and several AI photo features. Photo Assist lets users describe the change they want to make to a photo, from restoring missing elements to removing objects. It can also change a photo from day to night, or change a person's outfit.

Creative Studio uses sketches, photos, or prompts to create and edit AI-generated visuals like stickers, wallpapers, and invitations.

The smartphones use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, which Samsung says is 19 percent faster than the prior-generation CPU in the Ultra. The GPU is 24 percent faster, and there's a 39 percent improvement in neural processing. The Ultra model also includes an updated vapor chamber with thermal material at the sides of the processor to better dissipate heat. Samsung says the processor also includes a "ProScaler" feature that improves image scaling for photos and videos.

Most models feature 12GB RAM, though the 1TB Ultra model has 16GB. Samsung added faster charging, and the device is able to charge to 75 percent in 30 minutes. Wireless charging at up to 25W is supported.

Along with the previously mentioned photo editing AI features, there are several other AI additions.

• Now Nudge - Now Nudge offers suggestions to help users avoid distractions. If someone asks for photos from a recent event, the Galaxy S26 can automatically suggest them so there's no need to switch apps and search for them.
• Now Brief - Samsung's daily AI-powered briefing is more proactive and more personalized, and it is able to surface reminders for important events based on personal context.
• Circle to Search - Circle to Search supports improved multi-object recognition so it can identify and locate multiple items in an image.
• Call Screening - Call screening detects unknown callers and asks them why they called, summarizing the information.
• Privacy Alerts - Machine learning notifies users when apps with device admin privileges unnecessarily try to access sensitive data.
• Private Album - With private album, users can hide select photos and videos without creating a separate folder or signing into a Samsung account.
• Bixby - Bixby serves as a conversational device agent that can adjust settings or help users with troubleshooting.
• Other chatbots - Galaxy users can choose other chatbots like Gemini and Perplexity, which can be activated with a button press or voice prompt.
• Background processing - The Galaxy S26 series can handle multi-step tasks in the background, which allows AI agents to complete tasks while the user does something else.

Samsung also introduced the Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro, which are designed to be used with the Galaxy S26 devices. The Galaxy Buds4 earbuds feature an updated fit and improved sound quality. The Buds4 Pro include Active Noise Cancellation, upgraded Adaptive EQ, an option for accepting or declining calls with head gestures, and support for activating AI agents.

Pre-orders for the new Samsung smartphones are available starting today, with a launch to follow on March 11. The Galaxy S26 starts at $899.99, the Galaxy S26+ starts at $1,099.99, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at $1,299.99. The Galaxy Buds4 are also available for pre-order starting today.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Article Link: Samsung Launches Galaxy S26 Ultra With Built-In Privacy Display and New AI Features

 

[Kaiserschmarrn]

That privacy display feature sounds neat.

 

[goonie4life9]

This sounds more evolutionary than revolutionary. However, the privacy display is pretty nifty.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

This screen technology is genuinely groundbreaking and has me excited like a child

 

[HouseLannister]

Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra has the best camera lineup

That’s your official take?

 

[iSalameee]

This is great, hopefully apple brings the privacy feature over. Love competition

 

[jml12286]

Only jealous of the cameras. The screen privacy thing seems interesting, but meh for me.

 

[hieranonymous]

We’ve come full-circle to where bad viewing angles are now a high-tech feature.

 

[What_Is_George]

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This certainly feels like an odd pairing

 

[ThisIsMike]

Hey Cupertino, start your photocopiers!

Seriously - I'm sorry, but the privacy screen - and the way it's implemented - THAT is a game changer. I didn't even know it was possible, as I just assumed it required the special screen protector overlay. Since it clearly doesn't, my next question is, WHAT TOOK THEM SO LONG!?! I'm very curious as to how this works exactly. (lol, was the tech of this explained in the video? I jumped around.)

Apple better get a move on this. This is the first time I've ever seen a feature from Samsung (or anyone else) that made me genuinely want the other device, which is, how shall we say, A PROBLEM.

I think that screen, combined with the way more and more phones are jumping ahead in terms of AI utilization, creates a very tangible threat to the iPhone's dominance... I'm a loyalist, but others are not, and Apple should be concerned. Hopefully the next year will provide the AI improvements needed, but that privacy screen - DAMN, son.

 

[SactoGuy18]

It's got a great camera, but how the internal hardware and OneUI version of Android processes it is something else.

But one thing does worry me about that privacy screen control--will it end up using more battery power than needed?

 

[The_Gream]

Okay. I feel sort of bad. I saw the info on the privacy screen features and my brain went right to people using it to watch corn while at work or where ever.

🤦

 

[fenderbass146]

This sounds more evolutionary than revolutionary. However, the privacy display is pretty nifty.

did you expect something different. This has been the smartphone market for at least 5-10 years. Foldable displays might make it a more of a revolution.

 

[Kylo83]

Never need to hide my display but apart from
That nothing new just a bunch of ai stuff

 

[Kylo83]

So on the 26 plus what’s new apart from software ai features?

 

[alanvitek]

Seeing the privacy screen just affect the notification bubble was the aha! moment for me. REALLY cool feature hope it comes to iPhone

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Looks nice in white.

 

[Pomidorowameba]

Okay. I feel sort of bad. I saw the info on the privacy screen features and my brain went right to people using it to watch corn while at work or where ever.

🤦

There is Apple Vision Pro m5 for that

 

[routine_analyst]

Apple the big bloated balloon spending billions on R&D yet Samsung copied early and jumped further than ever ahead of Tim Cook's fortress. Even my head is turning, having had an iPhone since 2007...

 

[Octavius8]

That is innovation!.
Apple just gives us new colors (that get scratched by looking at them!) and a “vapor chamber” to fix the previous iPhones problems.
That screen privacy feature is super nice to have.
iPhones feel more and more and more primitive. Apple is the worst at privacy features: no multi profile and now not privacy screen. We just have “Apple promise” that Apple “does not sells our data”.

 

[ValerieDurden]

As a Samsung fan meh.

 

[Kylo83]

Come on guys it’s on new feature and only the ultra and you can just get a screen protector, I’ve never needed to hide my display, a year later and that’s all they have changed lol it’s all software ai gimmicks

 

[Octavius8]

Just watched the video: I was so hesitant on AI gimmick features, but now, AI is is actually helpful!. From scanning and removing shadows for the phone, to a smart calendar, etc. and the privacy screen implemented in a excellent way, I think this is my last iPhone. Now let’s see how to migrate and how to do “airdrop” between Samsung and Mac and other persons iPhones.
Apple can not justify iPhone pricing model anymore. iPhone are now subpar. Below what they should provide for the price. Including lagging and mediocre keyboards!

 

[axantas]

Two hints:

For users: avoid sensible actions in crowded environments.
For hackers: if Samsung use position right behind shoulders of target.

 

[Octavius8]

Apple, please copy every feature of this personal digital assistant!. Yesterday.
I am affraid USA will ban Samsung for being too innovative.