Samsung has officially introduced the Galaxy S26 series at Galaxy Unpacked 2026, and this year’s update is about refinement in performance, smarter AI tools, and one standout hardware addition on the Ultra.
The lineup includes the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. The design looks familiar, but under the surface, there are meaningful upgrades especially if you use your phone for photography, video, multitasking, or work on the go.
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Here’s what you need to know before upgrading.
A more unified design
All three models now share a more consistent look. The Ultra is less boxy, and the camera system sits inside a single glass module instead of having separate floating lenses.
Samsung switched the Ultra from titanium to aluminum this year, which the company says improves heat management and reduces weight. At 7.9 mm thick, it is the slimmest Ultra so far.
The cooling system has also been redesigned with a larger vapor chamber to help manage heat during gaming, video recording, and heavy multitasking.
Galaxy S26 Ultra gets a built-in Privacy Display
The biggest new feature is exclusive to the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Instead of attaching a third-party privacy screen protector, Samsung integrated this feature directly into the OLED panel. When activated, the display limits viewing angles from the sides, top, and bottom. You can see your screen clearly, but people beside you will struggle to read it.
It can be toggled from Quick Settings, enabled automatically for specific apps like banking or messaging, or activated through routines based on your location.
For commuters, frequent travelers, or anyone handling sensitive information in public, this is a practical addition.
Performance focused on AI
Every Galaxy S26 model runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor customized for Galaxy. Samsung says this version includes deeper optimizations for camera processing, power efficiency, and AI tasks.
In everyday use, that means smoother app switching, faster photo edits, and more stable performance when pushing the phone with demanding tasks.
Enhanced creative tools
For creators, the Galaxy S26 Ultra brings several upgrades.
The Ultra keeps its 200-megapixel main camera but improves how it handles low light. Wider apertures allow more light into the sensor, helping produce clearer night photos. Night Mode has improved noise reduction, and video stabilization now includes a horizon lock feature that keeps footage level even if the phone tilts.
If you film events, travel content, or social media clips, this helps create steadier and brighter results.
Samsung’s Photo Assist editor inside the Gallery app has also evolved. You can type simple instructions to adjust photos, remove distractions, restore missing parts of an image, or change backgrounds. Edits can be adjusted step by step instead of applied all at once.
There is also a new Creative Studio app that lets users generate stickers, wallpapers, and greeting cards using prompts and photos. It encourages more personalization and experimentation.
The Ultra also supports a new professional-grade video codec designed to maintain quality even after multiple edits, which may benefit those who frequently export and re-edit footage.
Several AI-powered features throughout the system
Audio Eraser can reduce background noise in recorded videos and even while streaming content.
The document scanner removes shadows, folds, and even fingers holding documents before converting them into cleaner PDFs. Screenshots are automatically categorized into types like boarding passes, events, or coupons to make them easier to find later.
Now Nudge suggests actions based on conversations. If someone asks for trip photos, a shortcut appears directly on the keyboard to pull up relevant images.
Call Screening and Scam Detection analyze calls in real time and alert users to possible fraud attempts. There is also deeper integration with Google’s Gemini, allowing supported apps to run tasks in the background through voice commands.
So, how much is it?
Samsung has released official Philippine pricing for the Galaxy S26 Series, with limited-time pre-order rates available.
- The Galaxy S26 is priced at P68,990.
- The Galaxy S26+ is priced at P74,990.
- The Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at P86,990.
These prices are part of the current pre-order period and may adjust after the promotional window ends.
The Galaxy S26 and S26+ are available in 256GB and 512GB options, while the Ultra comes in 256GB, 512GB, and up to 1TB storage.
For those planning to upgrade, check out Samsung Philippines’ official website or authorized retailers while the pre-order offers are still active. The Galaxy S26 Series is also available for pre-order through major telco postpaid plans, premium membership plans, and prepaid device bundles in the Philippines.
Now, the real question is, should you upgrade?
If you are using a recent Galaxy model, the Galaxy S26 series feels like steady improvement rather than a big change. The privacy display upgrade, stronger AI features, and enhanced creative tools are the main highlights. If you are upgrading from an older device, the jump in performance, camera flexibility, and long-term support will feel more noticeable.
The Galaxy S26 series focuses on making everyday tasks easier while offering more creative control and stronger privacy built directly into the device. Whether that is enough to upgrade depends on how much you value those improvements.
Watch the full reveal here:
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