Samsung Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ launched with new AI features, camera improvements

Samsung has introduced its latest flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S26 series, at an event in San Francisco. The lineup includes the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra. The new smartphones focus on expanded artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, camera upgrades and performance improvements designed to simplify everyday smartphone tasks. The Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ run Samsung’s One UI 8.5 interface based on Android 16. They are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset in select markets, alongside Exynos 2600 variants depending on region.

“We believe AI should be something people can depend on every day, designed to work consistently for everyone and without the need for expertise,” said TM Roh, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Head of Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics. “With the Galaxy S26 series, we focused on making AI feel effortless, working quietly in the background so people can focus on what matters.”

Samsung Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+ price and availability

Samsung has opened pre-orders for the Galaxy S26 series starting February 25. The smartphones will be available in colour options including Cobalt Violet, White, Black and Sky Blue, along with Samsung.com exclusive Pink Gold and Silver Shadow variants. The Samsung Galaxy S26 and the Galaxy S26+ start at Rs 87,999 and Rs 1,19,999, respectively.

Both phones are available in two storage variants: 256GB and 512GB. As a limited-time offer, Samsung is offering the 512GB storage variant of both phones at the price of the 256GB option.

Samsung Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+ key specifications

The Samsung Galaxy S26 features a 6.3-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, while the Galaxy S26+ features a larger 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. Both devices support an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz.

The smartphones are available with up to 12GB RAM and storage options of 256GB and 512GB. Both models carry an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance and support Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.

The Galaxy S26 features a 4,300mAh battery with 25W wired charging, while the Galaxy S26+ packs a 4,900mAh battery with 45W wired charging. Wireless charging and Wireless PowerShare are supported on both devices.

Samsung has retained a triple rear camera setup on the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+. The system includes a 50MP primary camera with optical-quality zoom, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.

The front camera on both smartphones features a 12MP sensor. According to Samsung, enhancements to AI image signal processing result in more natural skin tones and sharper details across various lighting conditions.

The Gallery app comes with new AI editing capabilities, allowing you to adjust images using text commands, fill in missing areas, and refine changes without exiting the editor.

The Galaxy S26 series introduces new Galaxy AI capabilities that reduce manual work for everyday use. Features such as Now Nudge provide context-driven recommendations based on your activity, and Now Brief highlights reminders for your calendar, bookings, or travel information.

Samsung has also enhanced the Circle feature to use Google-powered Search so that you can search for multiple objects in a single image.

The smartphones also come with an improved, conversational Bixby assistant that lets you adjust settings or learn features just by talking. Apart from Bixby, the smartphones come with AI assistants such as Gemini and Perplexity.

Additional AI tools include document scanning that automatically removes distortions and combines files into PDFs, as well as smarter call screening features that summarise the intent of unknown callers.

Samsung has added new privacy-focused features alongside AI enhancements. The Galaxy S26 series includes improved on-device data protection through Samsung Knox, encrypted app data handling, and privacy alerts that notify users when apps attempt to access sensitive information.

With updated AI capabilities, camera refinements, and hardware upgrades, the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ aim to offer a more automated smartphone experience centered around everyday tasks rather than manual controls.