Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S26 series in India. The lineup from the South Korean smartphone maker comprises the Galaxy S26, S26+, and the flagship S26 Ultra. The brand has also introduced the Galaxy Buds 4 series, which feature a refreshed design along with a host of new features
The highlight of the S26 series is the integration of AI-enabled features. Samsung has shifted focus away from the conventional hardware race, instead prioritising a seamless user experience and enhanced productivity through artificial intelligence. From editing photos and videos using voice commands to improving low-light imaging and managing cross-application tasks.
A notable first for a Samsung smartphone is the new Privacy Display on the S26 Ultra. This is not merely an additional layer on the OLED panel. Samsung has engineered the light-emitting diode elements in such a way that they reduce light dispersion from side angles, limiting visibility to roughly a 30-degree field of view when viewed head-on. Any shift in viewing angle makes the display nearly impossible to read. Users can toggle the privacy feature either for the entire screen or selectively for apps and notifications. The display now supports 10-bit colour, and is protected by Gorilla Armor 2.
Powering the S26 and S26+ is the Exynos 2600 processor, built on a 2nm architecture and claimed to offer improved performance and better thermal efficiency over its predecessor. The top-spec S26 Ultra is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. While the 200MP primary camera on the Ultra remains unchanged, Samsung has introduced a wider f/1.4 aperture to enhance low-light performance. Additionally, the optical image stabilisation has been refined to deliver smoother video capture with horizon lock feature.
Completing the announcement, Samsung also unveiled the Galaxy Buds 4 series, including the Pro variant. The updated design incorporates new materials alongside AI-driven features. Adaptive EQ and Active Noise Cancellation are present, with the addition of intuitive head gesture controls.
