Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: A Glimpse into the Future of Smartphone Privacy and AI
Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy S26 series, comprising the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra. While AI integration remains a central focus, the standout innovation is the new Privacy Display integrated into the Galaxy S26 Ultra. This feature aims to create the display readable only when viewed directly, significantly reducing the ability to notice the screen from the side – a technology that could potentially influence Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro development.
Beyond Privacy Filters: A Pixel-Level Approach
Unlike traditional privacy filters, Samsung’s Privacy Display operates at the pixel level. It’s not a physical film but a system-level integration of hardware and software. This allows for activation in specific scenarios, such as when entering a PIN or accessing sensitive apps, with varying levels of protection – from partial protection for notifications to full shielding for complete privacy.
AI Takes Center Stage: More Than Just a Buzzword
The Galaxy S26 series doubles down on artificial intelligence. Key features include Now Nudge, Now Brief, an enhanced Circle to Search, a more conversational Bixby, and support for external AI agents like Gemini and Perplexity. Samsung is also pushing multi-step task management in the background, streamlining user experience.
Galaxy S26 Ultra: Power and Performance
The Galaxy S26 Ultra maintains its premium positioning with a 6.9-inch display, a 200MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and dual telephoto lenses (3x and 5x optical zoom, with up to 10x “optical quality” zoom). Samsung has also improved low-light video recording with Nightography Video and introduced AI-powered photo editing tools, including Photo Assist with natural language modifications.
Under the hood, the Ultra model features the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, boasting improvements in CPU, GPU, and NPU performance, alongside a revised vapor chamber for thermal management. The Ultra also supports charging up to 75% in approximately 30 minutes.
Pricing and Availability
The Galaxy S26 series is available in the following configurations and prices in Italy:
- Galaxy S26
- 12GB + 256GB: €1,029
- 12GB + 512GB: €1,229
- Galaxy S26+
- 12GB + 256GB: €1,289
- 12GB + 512GB: €1,489
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 12GB + 256GB: €1,499
- 12GB + 512GB: €1,699
- 16GB + 1TB: €1,999
Pre-orders begin today, with general availability starting on March 11th.
FAQ
Q: What is the Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
A: It’s a new feature that makes the screen readable only when viewed directly, enhancing privacy by preventing side viewing.
Q: What AI features are included in the Galaxy S26 series?
A: The series includes Now Nudge, Now Brief, Circle to Search, Bixby improvements, and support for Gemini and Perplexity.
Q: What processor does the Galaxy S26 Ultra utilize?
A: It uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy.
Q: When will the Galaxy S26 series be available?
A: General availability starts on March 11th.
Q: What camera specs does the Galaxy S26 Ultra have?
A: It features a 200MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and dual telephoto lenses (3x and 5x optical zoom).
Worth a look