Samsung Galaxy S26 launch recap: Unpacked 2026 as it happened

Hello from San Francisco!

Good morning from me here, so good evening to you there (or maybe it's the afternoon?)! Wherever you're at in the world, welcome to Galaxy Unpacked 2026.

T3's tech editor, Mike, here to kick things off – live from San Francisco. Similar to last year's event – which was down the road in San Jose – this is the launch location for the next Galaxy flagship handsets.

I'm fighting the jet lag once more to bring you all the latest Galaxy S26 goodies from the ground – before, during and after the Unpacked event.

So strap in for live commentary, teases, leaks, opinions, and plenty more besides.

Hello from London and Bath!

Hi all, it's T3's news editor Rik Henderson here and while Mike will be reporting live from San Francisco later today (and through the event), I will be on hand in the UK – along with other members of the T3 team – to bring you up to date with everything ahead of Unpacked.

That includes some of the juiciest rumours and what you should expect to see. There have also been plenty of sightings of the Samsung Galaxy S26 phone family over the last few weeks, so we'll give you a glimpse along the way.

So come back often as we detail everything Samsung throughout the day.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra on sale already

Perhaps the biggest surprise we've had in the build up to Unpacked was when YouTuber Sahil Karoul revealed that he'd managed to buy a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra in Dubai long before it's expected to be in stores.

This was accompanied by a flurry of pics and videos showing the likes of the new Privacy Display and other key hardware additions.

Samsung will undoubtedly be fuming, as this is arguably the biggest leak we've seen over the years, and especially so as it seems to have some from one of its own retail outlets.

It's not just Samsung Galaxy S26

Samsung has already confirmed that it won't just be the Samsung Galaxy S26 phones launched today – there will be new Samsung Galaxy Buds too.

Thought to be the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro, the new wireless in-ears were revealed via the official Samsung Canada store site, which included them in the Q&A section at the bottom.

We've also seen a fair few leaks about the Buds in recent times, which show a design change in the standard model – to look more like Apple's AirPods.

What is the Privacy Display?

Undoubtedly the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's biggest new feature will be the Privacy Display, which was confirmed by Samsung itself last month. We expect the manufacturer to spend a lot of time on it during its presentation, that's for sure. But what is it?

Well, the Privacy Display is built into the new screen and is selectable through the phone's settings. It essentially reduces the viewing angle of the display to ensure onlookers either side of you cannot see what's on your screen. That's great if you're reading sensitive information on the train, for example, or entering passwords and banking information.

You can also set the strength of the Privacy Display, it seems, to just obscure the screen or make it look like it's completely blacked out. Other brands will undoubtedly copy this feature in the coming months.

Not so MagSafe

While previous rumours suggested the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra would come with magnets in the rear, to comply with Qi2.2 standards, it seems they were wrong. Or at least, Samsung decided to omit them after original testing.

According to several later reports, while the flagship phone is expected to support 25W wireless charging, it won't be MagSafe compatible. As with the S25 Ultra, you'll need a separate case with magnets in the rear to have that kind of secure connectivity.

Looks like iPhone and Google Pixel 10 will continue to solely savour that feature for a bit longer.

Get a £30 voucher with pre-registration... but be quick

If you plan to pre-order one of the new Samsung Galaxy S26 handsets, you still have a chance to snag a £30 voucher to spend on Samsung's online store – at least in the UK.

You have until 6pm GMT to register your interest by heading to the dedicated Unpacked webpage. Once there, enter your details and, if you pre-order any of the phones after their launch, you'll also receive the voucher.

You'll also be entered into a prize draw to be in with a chance to win an additional £500 voucher, which can be spent on any other Samsung products.

All pre-orders in the UK (and Europe, it seems) will double the storage – an offer Samsung has run for the last few years. This will give you a 512GB Samsung Galaxy S26 for the price of a 256GB model, for example.

Remember though, while the double storage offer will still be in place, the vouchers are only if you pre-register before 6pm GMT.

One case manufacturer goes early

Dbrand has never been shy when it comes to risking the ire of manufacturers, it regularly bucks the trend with its phone and gaming accessories. And as such it has already started to sell its Samsung Galaxy S26 cases.

There are three cases on offer, with magnets built into each shell to make the phones compatible with MagSafe chargers.

You can also order Dbrand skins in multiple designs, to decorate your shiny new phone when it arrives.

Any big secrets?

While the launch plans for this Samsung Galaxy Unpacked seemed to have been leakier than hessian swimming trunks, there's the likelihood of one product tease we haven't already been privy to.

The last two major Unpacked events ended with a sneak peek of something coming up later that year. In 2024, we got a glimpse at the Samsung Galaxy Ring long before its official unveiling, and last year we were treated to a brief look at Project Moohan – which eventually became the Samsung Galaxy XR headset.

While we don't yet know what is coming at the end of today's presentation, the smart money would be on either XR smart glasses, which we've heard rumblings about for a while, or the new square-like foldable to take on the iPhone Fold in the autumn.

You should definitely watch until the end, therefore.

Don't expect crazy colours

Although Samsung went with the trend of orange devices for its Galaxy S25 Ultra model last year, the leaked colours for the Galaxy S26 Ultra seem to be more muted.

They leaked around three weeks ago, with a purple model joining sky blue, white and black versions. Now we've seen them lined up together in another major leak – this time on a marketing sheet.

Of course, there could be additional colours down the line. After all, Samsung likes to add exclusive designs after launch. But these are the four we expect to see today.

AI Camera technology

Good afternoon, tech fans. T3's Sam Cross here, ready to take you through to just before the kick off of the event itself.

One area we are rumoured to see less of an update is in the camera. Leaked specs for that appear broadly the same as its predecessors, though there's likely to be a lot more AI under the hood according to teasers from the brand.

It will be interesting to see what that entails – personally I'd be more enamoured with improvements to the raw hardware of the camera, but maybe there's some fun new tech to play with.

What's the charge?

While we're talking about leaks, it's worth mentioning a recent one from notorious Samsung insider, Ice Universe. That showcased marketing material from a Spanish language source, and gave away a lot of details about the rumoured specs of the device.

One thing which I was really excited by in that leak was the battery specs. While it's still a 5,000mAh battery, there is said to be 60W charging on offer, which would be a significant improvement.

The materials shared suggested that it would be capable of charging from 0-75% in just 30 minutes, which is seriously impressive. It would be a real marker for a brand which has been slightly lacking in the battery department for the last decade, and I certainly hope this one proves true.

Sweeter than SUGA

We know these Samsung events are a hotbed for celebrity appearances, and it's likely that today will be no different. A few hours ago, Samsung shared a poster of popular K-pop rapper, SUGA – a member of the group BTS – which suggested that they might be in the house.

In previous events, we've seen celebrities like Sydney Sweeney appear to promote devices, while I'd keep an eye out for brand ambassador and football legend, Son Heung-Min, who is currently plying his trade down the road in Los Angeles.

A Perplexing addition

One rather big change we could see on the software side includes a new voice assistant command. "Hey Plex!" is the command new users are expected to be using, with the Perplexity AI engine said to be coming to Galaxy AI.

That could offer a significant boost for users of the devices, with more options for different AI engines meaning greater flexibility in what can be achieved. As we wrote at the time the news broke, though, we're just hoping that the integration and day-to-day usage is nice and seamless.

Live from the Palace of Fine Arts

Good morning from a rather soggy San Francisco, where the dramatic grounds of the Palace of Fine Arts aren't being especially kind to camera lenses thus far.

However! I'm on the inside, ready for Galaxy Unpacked 2026 to kick off, with the clock now counting down – and 40 minutes to go.

So strap in, as the predicted hour of event is certain to promise plenty of product announcements and more. I'll be guiding you throughout, so long as Wi-Fi holds up its end of the deal...

One more thing?

As I count down the clock for Unpacked's kick-off, it's got me reflecting on the first Unpacked of 2025, when the Galaxy S25 series was launched.

Except, at that event in San Jose, the big and unexpected reveal was actually the Galaxy S25 Edge – which got people really, really excited. Honestly, it was full-on elbows out at that event, as everyone jostled to get a look.

Whilst I don't hope for such a bundle of bodies this year, there is the big question mark over 'just what might Samsung tease'? Rumours point to new AR glasses, but whether that comes to fruition we'll have to wait and see...

One UI for Multi AI?

For a brief period of time, Samsung pushed a One UI 8.5 beta on the current Galaxy flagship, which you could sign-up for – with the final software and some new features anticipated for the S26 series.

I suspect this new software is going to be an integral upgrade for the new S26 handsets. As you've already read from my colleagues' input in this very live blog, Perplexity AI is expected to be an integrated part of this update.

Indeed, artificial intelligence as a whole – and not just Samsung's own Galaxy AI – is seemingly set to be a major part of the new line-up's ambitions in creating a cross-platform, always-on AI experience. I'm sure more detail will be a major part of the live show – more as it happens!

Living on the Edge

Speaking of the Edge's reveal just over a year ago, it's got me wondering: will we see an update at this Unpacked?

Rumour is that the Korean brand might actually shelve the project entirely due to slow sales. My hope is rather different: that a would-be Edge replacement could slip into the Galaxy flagship range in place of the Plus model.

Does the Plus even make sense anymore? I'm less convinced about it than in past years, because of the rise of Samsung's FE model, masses of competition, and close pricing to the Ultra model in the range.

I think an Edge would naturally fit into the range but, honestly, don't think it'll be the topic of conversation for this Unpacked 2026 event...

Tick tock...

No, not the social network! We've got just under 10 minutes to go until everything kicks off.

The music at the venue has changed, the bass is thumping, and the countdown is on for the imminent S26 series reveal...

The cat's out of the bag...

In classic Samsung fashion, as Unpacked commences, the product embargo has lifted – so I can reveal our S26 Ultra preview already. That's the main headline today.

But do keep following along, as new features are detailed, new surprises appear, and we get a deeper dive from a Samsung perspective on the 2026 line-up...

Best friends with AI

A lovely 'best friends' promotional video over and Samsung's big boss, TM Roh, enters the stage.

"AI for everyone" is the message. "It has to work for everyone". And "thats where Galaxy keeps pushing forward".

"Reach, openness and confidence," are the trio of Samsung's goals with AI. Reach everyone, make it effortless with the same quality of experience to all, and security so you can entrust where your information is held and/or shared.

Lots to love in Galaxy AI

We're being treated to a rundown of the Galaxy AI feature set, now.

Circle to Search, Now Brief, the Personal Data Engine and more, all get a moment in the sun here. The word 'agentic' is being tossed around a lot, too. My senses suggest something is coming in the Galaxy AI realm...

New Gemini features for S26

The partnership with Google to power AI experiences is well noted, and it seems that's evolving here! AI OS – don't make any iPhone-related Freudian slips, there – is the name, and it includes a first look at some of Gemini's new features on the S26 range.

That includes the ability for the AI engine to work in the background, keeping your handset free for you to use, while it summarises and does tasks. That will be an early preview on S26. Neat!

"Android is always where you see the future, first."

"Android is always where you see the future, first."

There's no room for subtlety at these events. Anyway, it looks like we've got some phone news now...

It comes from within

A 39% more powerful NPU allows for faster AI-powered functionality, while a 19% boost to the CPU ensures raw performance is also made better. There's also a boost to the GPU, designed to keep mobile gamers happy. "Console level performance in your pocket," they say.

All powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 For Galaxy, with the brand's largest vapour chamber inside, and confirmation of those killer battery charging speeds we saw rumoured last week. It's a hefty boost for the internals.

Don't stand so close to me

Now there's a moment for the new Privacy Display. And on the face of it, this looks like a genuinely brilliant upgrade.

As stated, third-party solutions always have some cost in terms of picture quality, but Samsung has rebuilt it right into the display itself. That includes something called narrow pixels, which narrow the beams of light to just the user.

It can even be used only for specific apps and notifications, which is something you can't get anywhere else. "A new standard for display innovation," reads the voiceover. This writer certainly agrees.

Hooked on privacy

Tech creator, MilesAboveTech, is on stage showing off the Privacy Display. My mind is made up – this is fantastic.

The ability to turn it on or off as needed, and even for just certain apps or notifications? That's brilliant. Now to cameras...

It's time for your close up

First up is the front facing camera, which is powered by an AI signal processing engine. But more important than that is the 200MP main sensor, which now packs in a whopping f/1.4 aperture. That's seriously impressive, and should help with shallow depth of field and low light shooting.

Speaking of which, we've got a lovely video showing off the Nightography Video functionality. It looks mighty good to this viewer!

Pro grade video

Another cool video feature – Super Steady with Horizon Lock. That should help to make video look much more stable, and will be great for any wannabe creators.

The devices also offer LOG video, for pro-grade editing workflows. And we learn that the entire livestream has been done from the new S26 Ultra! Huzzah!

AI Imagery

Now we're back on AI, with the ability to blend facets of two different images using AI. That means you can add in someone who wasn't there for the shot.

It also showcases changing outfits, replacing bite marks from cakes and more. All of the AI-generated content gets tagged, too, which is good to know.

Introducing the Samsung Galaxy S26 range

There are three models here – the S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra. All three are available from March 11th, with pre-orders starting today. UK Pricing is as follows:

Ultra: from £1279
Plus : from £1099
Base: from £879

Audiophiles welcome

Now, onto the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. Tuned woofers and tweeters deliver fidelity across the sonic spectrum, with a dual amplifier design to boot. Paired up with 24 bit / 96kHz audio, these sound like they could become a force to be reckoned with, and there's even an EQ in the app, to really tailor it to your liking.

It's not just audiophiles who can enjoy the benefits, either. Taking calls on these buds sounds fantastic!

Fresh design, flat stem

While they seem to be all about top-notch audio this time out, I have to say I'm not the biggest fan of the new design. The flat stem is an peculiar look, though maybe it's one of those which will grow on you over time.

They seem to be much easier to use within the Galaxy ecosystem, too. No pairing is required, and you can simply talk with them in to wake AI, without needing your phone.

Priced at US$249 for the Pro model and US$179 for the standard variant, these could be really impressive units.

Galaxy going green

With the products seemingly wrapped up, we've moved onto some talk about recycled materials for the brand. Every Galaxy product will have recycled material in it, which is positive.

The brand is also making a statement about its water use, as part of its larger sustainability initiatives.

That's all, folks

And that's a wrap on another Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event. We've seen a trio of new Android phones and a duo of new earbuds, all of which sound fantastic.

Be sure to check out our early verdict on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, as well as our guide to pre-orders – and even a natty free upgrade to be had!