Chips & Hardware
Samsung to debut Galaxy S26 series with AI and privacy features
Samsung is expected to launch its Galaxy S26 smartphone series on February 25, featuring new AI capabilities, privacy display technology, and updated processor configurations.
Samsung sent out invites on Tuesday for its next Galaxy Unpacked event—the company’s product launch event series—which is scheduled to take place on February 25 in San Francisco. At this event, the company is expected to launch its Galaxy S26 series of smartphones.
Artificial intelligence will be a central focus of the new devices. Samsung stated that the upcoming phones are “built to simplify everyday interactions, inspire confidence and make Galaxy AI feel seamlessly integrated from the moment it’s in hand.” Beyond AI, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to debut a privacy display feature. This feature is expected to allow users to protect sensitive information by hiding specific areas of the screen, such as the notification area, from onlookers.
The processor configuration for the new lineup will split by region. Reports suggest that the top phone in the series will run Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Elite Gen 5 processor in the U.S. and China. Meanwhile, Samsung will likely use its own Exynos 2600 processor for devices distributed in other regions.
According to specifications reported by the tech site SamMobile, the S26 will feature the following hardware details:
- A 5,100 mAh battery capacity
- Support for 60W wired charging speeds
- Support for 25W wireless charging speeds
In addition to the smartphone lineup, Samsung is likely to release updated Galaxy Buds 4 wireless earbuds, positioning them against competitors like Apple.
The Galaxy Unpacked event will begin at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CET) and will be streamed live on Samsung’s website and YouTube channel. Samsung is offering a $30 promotional credit to consumers who pre-register their interest in the upcoming devices. This credit does not require a purchase and can be used as a discount toward other Samsung products. For consumers who pre-register and then proceed to preorder one of the new devices, Samsung will increase the incentive to a $150 promotional credit, with no trade-in required.
Why it matters
Samsung’s S26 launch highlights the industry’s shift toward integrated AI and hardware-level privacy features, while the processor split underscores the ongoing regional differentiation in mobile hardware.