Samsung reveals Galaxy S26 lineup with Privacy Display and exclusive Gemini smarts

Samsung has once again solidified its position as the leader in the Android smartphone market with the introduction of the Galaxy S26 lineup. This year's Unpacked event showcased the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26, which are set to dominate the market in the coming year. While the updates may seem modest, featuring only some cosmetic changes and enhanced internal specifications, the spotlight is firmly on Samsung's commitment to artificial intelligence. The Galaxy S26 series is touted as the first to feature 'Agentic AI phones', signifying a deeper integration of AI technologies. However, consumers will notice an increase in price for the more affordable models, rising by $100, while the Ultra model remains at a premium price of $1,300. Design-wise, distinguishing the S26 series from its predecessors might be challenging, with subtle differences in camera design and slight variations in dimensions. One notable change is the S26 Ultra's shift from titanium back to aluminum, a move also seen in Apple’s latest phones. Fans of Samsung's S Pen will be pleased to know it remains included with this iteration. Under the hood, the Galaxy S26 lineup is powered by the latest Snapdragon flagship processor, specifically customized for Samsung devices. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is built on a 3 nm architecture, featuring advanced CPU cores, an Adreno 840 GPU, and a robust Hexagon NPU designed for on-device AI tasks. Samsung claims that these enhancements will yield significant performance improvements, although users are aware of the brand's yearly promises. Historically, Samsung flagship phones have showcased impressive hardware capabilities. Nevertheless, they can experience overheating and throttling during prolonged usage. This year, the company has introduced its largest vapor chamber yet in the S26 series to better manage thermal performance, aiming to improve user experience during intensive tasks.