Samsung's S26: Agentic AI Phones Arrive With Price Hikes

Samsung has officially unveiled its latest flagship Android devices: the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra. These phones are marketed as the first 'Agentic AI phones,' emphasizing deep AI integration across the user experience. Despite a focus on AI, hardware revisions are largely cosmetic, with internal upgrades primarily centered around the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor.

Cosmetic changes to the S26 family are subtle, with slight alterations to camera surrounds and dimensions. The S26 Ultra reverts to an aluminum frame from titanium. Notably, the prices for the base S26 and S26+ have increased by $100, starting at $900 and $1,100 respectively, while the S26 Ultra maintains its $1,300 price point.

A significant new software feature is the 'Privacy Display,' which utilizes 'narrow pixels' to limit viewing angles, combating 'shoulder surfing.' This feature can be activated globally, per app, or for specific screen areas like notifications.

Samsung's AI push includes 'Now Brief,' which now leverages notification content for reminders, and 'Nudges' that suggest apps and content based on screen context. The Gallery app receives enhanced AI editing tools, with watermarks now added to AI-generated images.

Partnerships with Google bring enhanced scam detection to the Messaging app and an upgraded 'Circle to Search' feature. Gemini can now handle multistep tasks in the background, initially supporting app-based actions like food ordering and ride-sharing, though user supervision is advised.

The Galaxy S26 series comes with improved cooling via larger vapor chambers and redesigned batteries for better efficiency. Charging speeds have also increased, with the Ultra model now reaching 75% charge in 30 minutes.

Preorders for the Galaxy S26 line are available starting today, with devices expected to ship on or around March 11. Enhanced trade-in values are being offered to offset the new pricing.