Following the news that Samsung has launched the Galaxy S26 series of devices;
Anisha Bhatia, Senior Technology Analyst at GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform, offers her view:
“Samsung put artificial intelligence (AI) at the center of its latest Unpacked event, evolving its ‘AI-first’ Galaxy S26 series of phones through both software partnerships and standout new display hardware.
“Samsung’s software strategy is anchored in broad AI integration across the Galaxy experience, including a partnership with Perplexity to create a new Samsung browser. In parallel, Samsung is working with Google to embed Gemini AI ‘into every layer’ of the Android ecosystem—positioning Android to evolve into what it describes as an intelligent, agentic operating system, turning up the pressure on Apple to accelerate its own AI roadmap.
“On the hardware front, Samsung unveiled a ‘Privacy Display’ designed to shield on-screen visibility. The feature can be toggled quickly from the phone’s main controls and uses two types of pixels to restrict viewing angles across the display or selectively for specific apps and notifications. But it is available only on Samsung’s star flagship, the $1,299 S26 Ultra.
“The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the clear leader of the pack, pairing a 5,000mAh battery with Super Fast Charging 3.0 (up to 75% in 30 minutes with 60W charging), plus five rear cameras and S Pen support. The Galaxy S26 and S26+ round out the lineup with more incremental gains—improved cameras and battery performance, alongside expanded AI features across imaging, notifications, and photo organization.
“Samsung held the S26 Ultra’s price steady, but component constraints are influencing pricing across the broader lineup. The S26 and S26+ are priced $100 higher than the previous generation, starting at $900 and $1,100 respectively for 256GB models, with memory chip (RAM) supply pressures cited as a contributing factor.”
About GlobalData
GlobalData operates an intelligence platform that empowers leaders to act decisively in a world of complexity and change. By uniting proprietary data, human expertise, and purpose-built AI into a single, connected platform, we help organizations see what’s coming, move faster, and lead with confidence. Our solutions are used by over 5,000 organizations across the world’s largest industries, delivering tailored intelligence that supports strategic planning, innovation, risk management, and sustainable growth.
