Quick Brief
- Galaxy S26 Ultra runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, delivering a 39% NPU and 19% CPU gain over S25 Ultra
- World’s first built-in Privacy Display on a mobile phone ships exclusively on S26 Ultra
- Super Fast Charging 3.0 reaches 75% battery in 30 minutes on S26 Ultra’s 4,855mAh cell
- Pre-orders opened February 25, 2026; colors include Cobalt Violet, White, Black, and Sky Blue
Samsung has not simply upgraded its flagship. With the Galaxy S26 series, the company has rebuilt the relationship between hardware, AI, and privacy from the ground up. This analysis covers every major advance verified directly against Samsung’s official specifications, with first-hand testing notes where applicable.
Performance Numbers That Change Daily Use
The Galaxy S26 Ultra runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy, a chipset customized specifically for this device. Samsung confirms a 39% improvement in NPU performance compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, meaning AI tasks execute in the background without interrupting active use. CPU performance climbs 19% and GPU performance rises 24%, making this the most capable processor ever shipped in an S-series device.
Thermal management receives an equally significant upgrade. Samsung redesigned the Vapor Chamber with thermal interface material positioned along the processor’s sides, spreading heat more efficiently across a larger surface area during sustained workloads like gaming or video capture. The result is consistent peak performance, not just burst speed.
ProScaler, Samsung’s proprietary image scaling technology, sharpens text and fine detail while smoothing textures for clearer photos and videos at a glance. Note that ProScaler is supported on Galaxy S26+ and S26 Ultra models only, not on the base S26. Samsung’s mobile Digital Natural Image engine (mDNIe) also delivers more lifelike colors through image processing with four times the precision of the previous generation.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Launches February 25: The AI-Powered Flagship That Redefines Mobile Innovation
The Camera System: Real Gains, Not Marketing
The S26 Ultra’s 200MP Wide camera admits 47% more light than the S25 Ultra, and the 50MP 5x Optical Zoom Telephoto lens takes in 37% more light. Both are optical-level improvements, not software compensation. Low-light video benefits directly through Enhanced Nightography Video, which maintains clarity in dim environments like indoor venues or outdoor evening settings, though Samsung notes results may vary depending on shooting conditions.
Galaxy S26 Ultra is the first Galaxy device to support APV, a professional-grade video codec engineered for efficient compression in high-quality production workflows, delivering visually lossless quality that holds through repeated editing. Super Steady video now includes a horizontal lock option for greater stability on uneven terrain or fast-motion capture.
The upgraded Photo Assist suite accepts plain-language instructions: users can shift a scene from day to night, restore missing parts of objects, or change outfit details in existing photos. Samsung requires network connectivity and Samsung Account login for Photo Assist, and outputs carry a visible AI watermark on save to indicate AI-generated edits. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed per Samsung’s own disclosure. Creative Studio consolidates ideation and production in one space, also requiring network access and Samsung Account login.
Document Scan uses AI to remove distortions, creases, and obstructions from photographed documents and can organize multiple scans into a single PDF automatically.
Galaxy AI: From Assistant to Agent
What separates the S26 series from earlier AI phones is the shift toward proactive, multi-step task completion. Now Nudge surfaces contextually relevant suggestions without requiring user input: when a contact asks for trip photos, the phone automatically surfaces relevant Gallery content before the user begins searching. Now Nudge also recognizes meeting mentions in messages and checks for Calendar conflicts. Samsung Account login is required for Now Nudge, and accuracy of photo-suggestion results is not guaranteed.
Circle to Search with Google gains multi-object recognition on the S26 series, allowing users to explore multiple elements within a single image simultaneously, including identifying individual clothing items in a single search. The upgraded Bixby now accepts natural language commands without requiring exact terminology or command syntax, lowering the barrier for all users.
The S26 series integrates Gemini and Perplexity as selectable agents alongside Bixby. Users can trigger multi-step tasks, including taxi bookings that are reviewed and confirmed in one interaction, through a single button press or voice prompt. Availability of these agent features may vary by country, region, language, and device model.
Privacy Display: A Verified Hardware First
The S26 Ultra introduces the mobile industry’s first built-in Privacy Display, controlling light dispersion at the pixel level. Unlike adhesive privacy films, the integrated system preserves full image quality for the primary viewer when deactivated, while limiting side-angle visibility when activated, and it functions correctly in both portrait and landscape orientations.
Users can configure activation triggers including PIN entry, pattern input, password entry, or specific app launches. Partial Screen Privacy limits notification pop-up visibility from side angles, while Maximum Privacy Protection narrows the side viewing cone further for more sensitive situations. Samsung notes some information may still remain visible depending on the viewing angle or ambient brightness, and recommends caution when exposing sensitive information.
Software privacy adds a second layer. AI-powered Call Screening identifies unknown callers and summarizes their intent, though availability varies by country, region, and language. Privacy Alerts use machine learning to notify users in real time when apps with device admin privileges attempt unnecessary access to precise location data, call logs, or contacts.
Private Album, built directly into the Gallery app, lets users hide selected photos and videos without creating a separate folder or signing into a Samsung Account. The S26 series also extends Samsung’s post-quantum cryptography to critical system processes including software verification and firmware protection.
Seven Years of Security: What It Means for You
Samsung commits to seven years of security updates for the Galaxy S26 series. For a device purchased at launch in 2026, that extends active security support into 2033. Knox Matrix adds PQC-enabled end-to-end encryption for services including eSIM transfers, and the new Security Status of Your Devices dashboard provides visibility into firmware update status across connected Galaxy devices.
On-device Galaxy AI is protected through the Personal Data Engine (PDE) and Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP), which encrypts each app’s data individually. Knox Vault adds a physical hardware layer that isolates the most sensitive data inside dedicated secure hardware, separate from the main processor.
Availability and Colors
Pre-orders for the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra opened globally on February 25, 2026. The lineup shares a unified design language across all three models. Confirmed color options are Cobalt Violet, White, Black, and Sky Blue, with Pink Gold and Silver Shadow available exclusively through Samsung.com. Color availability may vary by country or carrier. US and India pricing are not confirmed in Samsung’s official announcement at the time of publication; pricing details will be added as Samsung publishes official figures.
Limitations Worth Knowing
ProScaler is not available on the base Galaxy S26 model, only on S26+ and S26 Ultra. Photo Assist and Creative Studio require a network connection and Samsung Account login, and AI-generated photo edits carry a visible watermark on save. The Privacy Display feature is exclusive to the S26 Ultra and does not extend to the S26 or S26+. Galaxy AI feature availability varies by region, OS version, and carrier.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What chipset powers the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy, customized specifically for this device. It delivers 19% faster CPU performance, 39% faster NPU performance, and 24% improved GPU output compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
What is the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display and how does it work?
It is the mobile industry’s first built-in hardware Privacy Display. It controls pixel-level light dispersion so the screen appears clear to the primary user but limits side-angle visibility when activated. Unlike adhesive films, it works in both portrait and landscape orientation without image quality loss. Samsung notes some information may still be visible depending on viewing angle or brightness.
When did Galaxy S26 pre-orders open?
Pre-orders for the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra opened globally on February 25, 2026. Samsung has not announced a specific general sale date in its official announcement. Color options include Cobalt Violet, White, Black, and Sky Blue, with Pink Gold and Silver Shadow exclusive to Samsung.com.
How fast does the Galaxy S26 Ultra charge?
Super Fast Charging 3.0 reaches 75% battery in 30 minutes. The rated battery capacity is 4,855mAh for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Samsung tested this under third-party laboratory conditions meeting the IEC 61960 standard.
Which AI agents does the Galaxy S26 support?
The S26 series supports three selectable AI agents: upgraded Bixby, Gemini, and Perplexity. Users can trigger multi-step tasks, including taxi bookings reviewed and confirmed in one interaction, through a single button press or voice prompt. Availability varies by country, region, language, and device model.
What makes the Galaxy S26 camera better than S25 Ultra?
The 200MP Wide camera on the S26 Ultra admits 47% more light, and the 5x Optical Zoom Telephoto lens takes in 37% more light than the equivalent S25 Ultra sensors. AI ISP improvements now also extend to the selfie camera for more natural skin tones in mixed lighting.
Does Photo Assist add watermarks to edited images?
Yes. Samsung’s official disclosure states that a visible AI watermark is overlaid on the image output upon saving to indicate the image is AI-generated. Photo Assist also requires a network connection and Samsung Account login, and accuracy of output is not guaranteed.
Does the Galaxy S26 support long-term software updates?
Yes. Samsung commits to seven years of security updates for the Galaxy S26 series, extending active security support into 2033 for devices purchased at launch.
