The Galaxy S26 is out now and everyone wants the Ultra

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series has officially started reaching customers, and the company is leading with a feature you won’t find anywhere else. The phones are rolling out globally alongside the Galaxy Buds 4, and Samsung reports that pre-orders have already climbed by double digits compared to last year’s models. But the headline grabber here is something you can’t see from an angle.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra, which captured more than 70 percent of those pre-orders, arrives with what Samsung calls the world’s first built-in Privacy Display. This is pixel-level screen technology that actively limits peripheral viewing when you turn it on.

How the privacy screen actually works

Samsung didn’t just dim the display or add a software filter here. The Privacy Display, which you must enable in settings, works at the hardware level to control exactly who can see what from different angles. It restricts visibility from the sides while you look at it straight on.

The company does acknowledge a tradeoff though. Some changes in image quality might occur outside that direct viewing angle, and Samsung still advises caution with truly sensitive information.

More than 70 percent of buyers picked the Ultra

The pre-order numbers tell a clear story about where demand sits right now. Over seven out of ten customers globally chose the Galaxy S26 Ultra over its cheaper siblings, which suggests that buyers see real value in what the top model delivers. A customized Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip runs the show with noticeable gains across the CPU, GPU and NPU.

The camera system also gets meaningful upgrades this time around. Nightography video performs better in low light, and a new horizontal lock option for Super Steady keeps footage smooth during action shots. Photo Assist also arrives with this generation, letting you describe edits in plain words, and Creative Studio helps you make things like stickers or wallpapers without much effort.

New earbuds and where to buy

Samsung is positioning the Galaxy Buds 4 series as more than just audio accessories this time. They’re designed to pair naturally with the new phones, featuring integrated AI agents and hands-free controls that actually work.

The design itself received a data-driven refresh based on hundreds of millions of ear data points and more than 10,000 simulations to nail the ergonomic fit. The Buds4 Pro add a wider woofer and enhanced Active Noise Cancellation for those who want the best sound.

Color options across the phones and buds include Cobalt Violet, White, Black and Sky Blue, with Pink Gold and Silver Shadow exclusive to Samsung.com. Samsung Care+ is also available if you want extra protection for your new gear.