The countdown is officially on. Samsung is hours away from pulling back the curtain on its most talked-about flagship yet, and the tech world is holding its breath. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is set to make its grand debut at Samsung Unpacked on February 25, 2026, in San Francisco — an event that promises to be one of the most consequential smartphone reveals of the year. For anyone even remotely interested in what the next generation of mobile technology looks like, tomorrow is the day to pay attention.
The event kicks off at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET and will be livestreamed on Samsung’s official YouTube channel and website — meaning no ticket required to witness the moment live. Pre-orders are expected to open immediately after the presentation wraps, with general retail availability set for March 11, 2026.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Feature Everyone Is Talking About
If there is one feature that has dominated the pre-launch conversation, it is the Privacy Display. Built using Samsung Display’s Flex Magic Pixel technology, this screen-level innovation narrows the viewing angle so that anyone sitting beside the user simply cannot see what is on the screen. It works in two modes — a standard setting and a maximum privacy protection mode — and can be configured to activate automatically based on specific apps or locations. Samsung has already teased it in official videos, showing it in action on a crowded bus. It is the kind of feature that feels obvious in retrospect, and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the first flagship to bring it to the mainstream.
Power, Performance and What Is Under the Hood
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor paired with 16GB of RAM — a combination built to handle everything from intensive multitasking to AI-driven tasks without breaking a sweat. The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display delivers a 120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 2,600 nits, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Armor 2.
On the camera front, Samsung is positioning the S26 Ultra as the brightest and most capable Galaxy camera ever — with a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide, a 50MP 5x periscope telephoto, and a 12MP 3x telephoto lens. AI-enhanced video zoom and low-light performance are central to the pitch. The 5,000mAh battery now supports 60W wired charging and 25W wireless — a meaningful jump from previous Ultra models.
Samsung’s AI Push Takes Center Stage
Beyond the hardware, Samsung is positioning agentic AI as the defining theme of Unpacked 2026. The tagline — The Next AI Phone Makes Your Life Easier — sets the tone for what to expect from One UI 8.5, running on Android 16. A major Bixby overhaul integrates Perplexity AI for smarter, more conversational responses, while new features like Storage Share and Audio Broadcast round out a software experience designed to make the Samsung ecosystem feel more connected than ever.
Price, Pre-Orders and What Else to Expect
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to start at $1,299.99 — holding steady from last year’s price point, though slight increases in select European markets are anticipated. Pre-orders open immediately after the Unpacked event, with confirmed double-storage bonuses in multiple markets — meaning buyers who pre-order a 256GB model could walk away with 512GB at no extra cost.
Beyond the S26 Ultra, Samsung is also expected to unveil the standard Galaxy S26, the S26 Plus, and the Galaxy Buds 4 series — including the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. It is shaping up to be one of the most packed Unpacked events in recent memory, and if the leaks are any indication, Samsung is ready to make a statement.
