Samsung Galaxy S26 series unveiled: India price, specifications, camera, and key features

Samsung Electronics has unveiled its Galaxy S26 smartphone lineup globally, including in India, positioning it as its third generation of AI-powered devices with upgraded performance, enhanced cameras and deeper on-device intelligence.

The series, Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra, is designed to handle complex AI tasks in the background so users can focus on results rather than manual controls. Pre-orders opened on February 25.

TM Roh, CEO, President and Head of the Device eXperience (DX) Division, said the company aimed to make AI dependable for everyday use and to operate quietly in the background without requiring technical expertise.

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AI-first design and performance gains

Samsung said the new lineup combines performance hardware, camera capabilities and Galaxy AI into a unified platform for all-day use with strong privacy and security protections.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces what the company describes as the first built-in Privacy Display on a smartphone, designed to protect on-screen content at the pixel level. The device also features a slimmer profile, upgraded thermal management and a customised Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy.

Samsung claims the chipset delivers a 19 per cent CPU boost, a 24 per cent GPU improvement and a 39 per cent increase in NPU performance, enabling always-on AI features and smoother multitasking.

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Super Fast Charging 3.0 allows the Ultra model to reach up to 75 per cent battery in 30 minutes, while the upgraded mDNIe image engine provides more lifelike colour processing with four times the precision of the previous generation.

The S26 Ultra also debuts support for APV, a new professional-grade video codec designed for higher-quality video with more efficient compression.

Camera and software intelligence

Samsung said the camera system uses AI-driven processing to enhance imaging and video workflows, while background software safeguards operate continuously without user intervention.

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The S26 lineup adopts a unified design language across models, with colour options including Cobalt Violet, White, Black and Sky Blue, along with exclusive Pink Gold and Silver Shadow variants.

New Galaxy Buds4 series

Alongside the smartphones, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Galaxy Buds4, focusing on improved audio fidelity and comfort.

The Buds4 Pro feature a wider woofer, upgraded Active Noise Cancellation and an enhanced Adaptive EQ that adjusts sound output based on surroundings.

Ikhyun Cho, Corporate Vice President of the Mobile Enhancement R&D Team, said the design prioritises all-day comfort without compromising audio performance.

The Buds4 series will be available for pre-order in select markets from February 25, with general availability starting March 11.

Samsung said the Galaxy S26 range is built to deliver an AI-centric mobile experience where intelligence operates seamlessly in the background, signalling a shift toward more autonomous smartphone functionality.

Samsung Galaxy S26 series price in India

The Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at ₹1,39,999 for the 256GB variant, ₹1,59,999 for the 512GB model and ₹1,89,999 for the 1TB version.

The standard Galaxy S26 is priced at ₹87,999 for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage option and ₹1,07,999 for the 12GB + 512GB variant.

The Galaxy S26+ comes in at ₹1,19,999 for the 256GB model and ₹1,39,999 for the 512GB version.