Samsung revealed its new Galaxy smartphones on Wednesday, highlighting an expanded array of artificial intelligence features compared to earlier models. A notable addition is the Privacy Shield mode, designed to keep nosy bystanders from sneaking a look at your screen.
The Galaxy S26 lineup will be available starting March 11, with base and mid-tier models seeing price increases between 10% to 13%. Meanwhile, the Ultra versions will maintain last year’s prices.
The standard Galaxy S26 is set to retail at $899, with the Plus version priced at $1,099—$100 higher than similar models from the last two years. The Galaxy S26 Ultra continues to be available for $1,299.
As is typical with new smartphones, Samsung has upgraded the camera and battery in the Galaxy S26. These improvements are significant for consumers considering whether to upgrade from their current devices.
Additionally, Samsung is promoting a new feature exclusive to the Ultra model called “Privacy Display.” When activated, it modifies the pixels to make the screen visible only to the person directly in front of it.
This feature prevents “shoulder surfing,” where people nearby might try to peek at what’s on your display. Users can also set certain apps to launch in Privacy View mode, ideal for managing sensitive information like financial data.
AI remains a primary selling point for Samsung’s phones, a focus that began two years ago as the company sought to enhance the versatility of its devices.
TM Roh, the CEO of Device Experience at Samsung, stated at a presentation in San Francisco, “AI must become part of our infrastructure,” emphasizing that users should experience its benefits with their everyday devices.
While Samsung heavily utilizes Google’s Gemini technology for AI, it’s also incorporating options from Perplexity, which is gaining traction for its online information searching capabilities.
The new Galaxy S26 is expected to feature AI that functions as a multi-purpose assistant, helping users retrieve information and content more efficiently.
There are also enhancements for photo processing, like an automatic skin tone softening tool for selfies taken with the front camera.
AI tech is making its way into various smart devices, including those from Apple. However, how well this resonates with consumers remains uncertain.
Apple has been evolving its AI features for nearly two years yet hasn’t fully delivered on all its promises. The limitations of Apple’s AI, especially in enhancing the intelligence of Siri, are becoming increasingly evident.
Nevertheless, the iPhone has held the title of the world’s best-selling smartphone for the past three years, a title Samsung lost in 2022, according to data from International Data Corp.
“AI isn’t yet a sought-after feature for users,” cautioned Paolo Pescatore, an analyst at PP Foresight. He noted that the key opportunity lies in making AI a daily utility rather than just a novelty, suggesting that it should be reliably useful enough to save time in everyday tasks.
