Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Highlights: The King of Android Phones Arrives

As is customary, the first Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event of 2026 is expected to take place at the end of February, and the specifications of the new phones are gradually becoming clearer. According to leaks from digital bloggers, this year’s S26 series will not only bring regular configuration updates, but also a brand-new “privacy mode” technology. Let’s take a look.

Core performance

In terms of underlying architecture, the S26 series is expected to continue the “dual-chip” strategy. The Chinese and North American versions are expected to be equipped with the fifth-generation Snapdragon 8 Ultra for Galaxy, while some regions will use Samsung’s own 2nm Exynos 2600 chip.

As the world’s first 2nm GAA process mobile phone chip, the Samsung Exynos 2600 pioneered a 10-core tri-cluster architecture (1 x 3.8GHz C1-Ultra super core + 3×3.25GHz C1-Pro performance cores + 6×2.75GHz C1-Pro energy efficiency cores), with multi-core performance improved by 39% compared to its predecessor and NPU computing power improved by 113%, achieving performance that is now firmly at the level of mainstream flagship chips.

On the software side, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series is expected to debut the One UI 8.5 system, which will not only improve the system’s smoothness and redesign the interface visuals, but also bring deeper AI integration. At the same time, Samsung may no longer limit itself to its own Galaxy AI, but will collaborate deeply with AI companies such as Perplexity to embed proactive AI search into the system’s underlying layers.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

As the flagship phone, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to maintain its rugged style while featuring a redesigned and upgraded screen and imaging system.

First, it features the Magic Flex Pixel privacy screen on the front, which is rumored to be a new OLED arrangement technology that enables pixel-level lateral light control.

In short, when you turn on “Privacy Mode,” only you, who are directly facing the screen, can see the content clearly; passersby to the side will see a black screen or a blurry image. The screen size may increase slightly to 6.9 inches, but thanks to the optimized titanium metal frame, the overall weight is actually about 4g lighter than the previous generation.

Regarding imaging capabilities, reports suggest that while the 200MP main camera retains the same pixel count, its aperture has been increased to f/1.4, significantly enhancing its low-light video recording and bokeh effects. Furthermore, the ultra-wide-angle lens has been upgraded to 50MP, paired with a 10MP 3x periscope telephoto lens and a 50MP 5x telephoto lens, ensuring clear photos and videos.

Samsung Galaxy S26+

According to leaks, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ will continue the trend towards a slim and lightweight design, with an overall thickness of approximately 7.3mm and a battery capacity expected to be 4900mAh. Its front will likely feature a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 3X panel, utilizing Samsung Display’s latest M14 luminescent material, boasting a peak brightness of 3000 nits while reducing power consumption by about 10%.

In terms of imaging configuration, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ and S26 are expected to have the same configuration, featuring a triple-camera setup consisting of a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto lens. For users who prioritize a large screen feel over top-notch imaging capabilities, the S26+ version may be the best fit for their needs.

Samsung Galaxy S26

The standard version of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series has taken into account user feedback on battery life. The screen size has been slightly increased from 6.2 inches to 6.3 inches, and the resulting physical space has allowed the battery capacity to be increased from 4000mAh to 4300mAh. Combined with the energy efficiency of the new Snapdragon flagship chip, the body weight is still kept at around 137g, resulting in improved battery life.

According to leaked pricing from European retailers, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series will discontinue the 128GB version across the board, with the starting storage option at 256GB. The S26 and S26+ will feature 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage, but due to the cost premium associated with chip manufacturing processes, the price of the entire S26 series may see a slight increase.

Summarize

Based on current information, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series has introduced “differentiated” screen configurations, especially the “privacy mode” of the S26 Ultra, which is expected to be difficult for other manufacturers to follow quickly.

For consumers who are still considering their options, the focus of the February 25th launch event will be on how noticeable these cutting-edge technologies are in actual user experience. Would you buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 series specifically for its built-in “privacy mode”? Let’s discuss.