Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026 as it happened: Galaxy S26 phones are here

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

12GB + 256GB – Rs 1,39,999

12GB + 512GB – Rs 1,59,999

16GB + 1TB – Rs 1,89,999

Samsung Galaxy S26+

12GB + 256GB – Rs 1,19,999

12GB + 512GB – Rs 1,39,999

Samsung Galaxy S26

12GB + 256GB – Rs 87,999

12GB + 512GB – Rs 1,07,999

Galaxy Buds 4 Pro – Rs 22,999

Galaxy Buds 4 – Rs 16,999

Here is a quick summary of the S26 and S26 Plus specs, in case you missed the launch event.

Display: The Galaxy S26 has a 6.3-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, while the S26+ features a 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel. Both support a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (1–120Hz) and Vision Booster. Actual viewable area is slightly reduced due to rounded corners and the camera cutout.

Dimensions and weight:

Galaxy S26: 71.7 × 149.6 × 7.2mm, 167g (Sub6)

Galaxy S26+: 75.8 × 158.4 × 7.3mm, 190g (mmWave/Sub6)

Processor: Both devices are powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy or Exynos 2600, depending on the market.

Rear Cameras:

50MP wide camera with f/1.8 aperture and 2x optical-quality zoom

12MP ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture

10MP telephoto camera with f/2.4 aperture and 3x optical zoom

Front Camera: 12MP with f/2.2 aperture

Memory and Storage:

Galaxy S26: 12GB RAM with 256GB or 512GB storage

Galaxy S26+: 12GB RAM with 256GB or 512GB storage

Storage availability may vary by market and carrier

Battery:

Galaxy S26: 4,300mAh (rated minimum 4,175mAh)

Galaxy S26+: 4,900mAh (rated minimum 4,755mAh)

Charging:

Galaxy S26: Wired charging up to 55% in 30 mins with 25W adapter; Fast Wireless Charging 2.0; Wireless PowerShare

Galaxy S26+: Wired charging up to 69% in 30 mins with 45W adapter; Super Fast Wireless Charging; Wireless PowerShare

Software: Android 16 with One UI 8.5

Connectivity: 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.4 (S26) / 6.0 (S26+)

Water and Dust Resistance: IP68 rating (up to 1.5m freshwater for 30 mins; dust-tight)
 

In case you missed the event. Here is a look at the full specs of the new Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone, which Samsung just showcased. India Today also got the opportunity to use the device for a brief period. Here is the quick review.

Display: It has a 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz, along with Vision Booster support. The actual viewable area is slightly smaller due to rounded corners and the camera cutout.

Dimensions and weight: It measures 78.1 × 163.6 × 7.9mm and weighs 214g, though the weight may vary by region.

Camera: It features a 200MP wide camera with f/1.4 aperture and 2x optical-quality zoom, a 50MP ultra-wide camera with f/1.9 aperture, a 50MP telephoto camera offering 5x optical zoom and 10x optical-quality zoom with an f/2.9 aperture, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and an f/2.4 aperture. On the front, there is a 12MP camera with an f/2.2 aperture.

Processor: It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset.

Memory and storage: It comes in 12GB RAM with 256GB storage, 12GB RAM with 512GB storage, and a top-end 16GB RAM with 1TB storage option, depending on the market.

Battery: It packs a 5,000mAh battery, with a rated minimum capacity of 4,855mAh.

Charging: It supports wired charging that can deliver up to 75 percent charge in around 30 minutes using a 60W adapter, along with super-fast wireless charging and Wireless PowerShare.

Software: It runs on Android 16 with One UI 8.5 on top.

Connectivity: It supports 5G and LTE networks, along with Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi Direct, and Bluetooth 6.0.

Water resistance: It carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance under lab-tested conditions.

And that’s a wrap from Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026 at the Palace of Fine Arts! The Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra — now officially unveiled — bring a host of AI innovations, camera upgrades, and performance boosts, while the Buds 4 series completes the ecosystem. Stay tuned for full hands-on impressions and in-depth coverage coming soon.

(Update from Cyrus John in San Francisco)

Samsung showcased its commitment to sustainability during the presentation, noting that the Galaxy S26 series incorporates more recycled materials, with recycled components used across all Samsung products. While the company emphasizes these initiatives, the impact is difficult to verify, making it hard to gauge the extent of actual change.

In India, the Galaxy Buds 4 will be priced at Rs 16,999, while the Buds 4 Pro will cost Rs 22,999. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro will be offered in Black, White, and Pink Gold at $249, while the Buds 4 come in Black or White for $179. Both models are set to launch on March 11.

Samsung claims the Buds 4 and 4 Pro are so comfortable that users may forget they’re wearing them, though a full review will confirm this. Both models also feature AirPods-style quick pairing, simply open the charging case near a Galaxy phone for a seamless one-touch connection.

All that you need to know about the new Galaxy Buds 4 series.

(Update from Cyrus John in San Francisco)

The Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro come with several upgrades over last year’s Buds 3, including improved sound quality, a 20% wider woofer, and an adaptive EQ for richer audio. Both models feature enhanced active noise cancellation that adjusts to the user’s ears, while the Buds 4 Pro offer a more secure, ergonomic in-ear design for added comfort. Other refinements include a metal finish, engraved pinch controls, and Super Clear Call technology for clearer conversations, though this requires a Samsung smartphone. Battery life stands at five hours for the Buds 4 and six hours for the Buds 4 Pro with ANC enabled, and while the Buds 4 retain an on-ear design, the Buds 4 Pro provide a tighter seal for better noise isolation.

Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro, expanding its lineup of true wireless earbuds with new features and improvements. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro feature improved bass, hi-res audio support, and a larger woofer for deeper, richer low frequencies, delivering a more immersive listening experience compared to previous models.

Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy Buds 4 series. The new earbuds come with improved active noise cancellation, longer battery life, and enhanced spatial audio support for a more immersive listening experience. The design is sleeker, with better fit and comfort, and the Buds 4 seamlessly integrate with the Galaxy S26 lineup for instant pairing and device switching.

(Update from Cyrus John in San Francisco)

Samsung launches Galaxy S26 series, flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra gets unique privacy display and 60W charging

The India prices and other details are in!

Galaxy AI on the S26 series can now merge photos, letting users, for example, add their pet to a picture of themselves and a partner with a simple text or voice command. It can also change outfits in photos or restore objects like a slice of cake that were partially eaten before the shot. Samsung says all AI-generated content will include a watermark in the corner, providing attribution, though it can be easily cropped out.

Samsung is unveiling new AI-powered creative tools on the Galaxy S26 series that let users add, remove, or modify objects in photos — including changing wardrobes or inserting entirely new elements — turning everyday shots into fully customisable images with just a few taps.

(Update from Cyrus John in San Francisco)
 

The Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces Motion features like Super Steady with Horizontal Lock, which automatically keeps the horizon level while recording. It also supports the APV codec for near-lossless quality, letting creators capture up to 8K video with more data preserved after edits. Notably, the live stream itself is being shot entirely on the S26 Ultra, showcasing the phone’s video capabilities in real time.

Samsung has added APV (Advanced Professional Video) format support to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, enabling 8K recording at 30fps along with log video capture. These upgrades give creators more control over color grading and post-production, bringing professional-level video capabilities to a smartphone. You can even store directly on an external SSD! Great for creators.

(Update from Cyrus John in San Francisco)

The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s camera rumours have been confirmed, with the 200MP main sensor featuring an f/1.4 aperture for improved low-light performance. The 50MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom also gets an upgrade to an f/2.9 aperture, enhancing detail and clarity in challenging lighting conditions.

-Display: It has a 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz, along with Vision Booster support. The actual viewable area is slightly smaller due to rounded corners and the camera cutout.

-Dimensions and weight: It measures 78.1 × 163.6 × 7.9mm and weighs 214g, though the weight may vary by region.

-Camera: It features a 200MP wide camera with f/1.4 aperture and 2x optical-quality zoom, a 50MP ultra-wide camera with f/1.9 aperture, a 50MP telephoto camera offering 5x optical zoom and 10x optical-quality zoom with an f/2.9 aperture, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and an f/2.4 aperture. On the front, there is a 12MP camera with an f/2.2 aperture.

-Processor: It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset.

-Memory and storage: It comes in 12GB RAM with 256GB storage, 12GB RAM with 512GB storage, and a top-end 16GB RAM with 1TB storage option, depending on the market.

-Battery: It packs a 5,000mAh battery, with a rated minimum capacity of 4,855mAh.

-Charging: It supports wired charging that can deliver up to 75 percent charge in around 30 minutes using a 60W adapter, along with super-fast wireless charging and Wireless PowerShare.

-Software: It runs on Android 16 with One UI 8.5 on top.

-Connectivity: It supports 5G and LTE networks, along with Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi Direct, and Bluetooth 6.0.

-Water resistance: It carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance under lab-tested conditions.

The Galaxy S26 series brings enhancements to both front and rear cameras. Selfie cameras have been improved for more natural, true-to-life images, while some of the Ultra’s rear camera apertures have been refined. Samsung highlights that the most significant upgrades focus on low-light performance, improving both photo and video capture in challenging conditions.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra comes with a 39% faster NPU and roughly 19% improvement in CPU performance, alongside an upgraded GPU powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. Gamers can expect console-level performance, with support for features like ray tracing and a large vapor chamber to keep the device cool during intense sessions.