The tech world is just hours away from the first major smartphone event of 2026. Tonight at 11:30 PM IST, Samsung will take the stage in San Francisco for Galaxy Unpacked. This isn’t just a hardware refresh; it’s a strategic repositioning. With Apple’s AI features and Google’s Gemini integration gaining ground, Samsung is launching a counter-offensive centered on “Usable AI”—tools designed to solve daily friction rather than just show off technical prowess.
The lineup remains familiar—Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra—but the internal logic has shifted toward on-device processing and an aggressive focus on digital privacy.
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The AI “Zero-Peeking” Revolution
The most talked-about feature ahead of the launch is Zero-Peeking Privacy.
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The Tech: Using the NPU’s eye-tracking and an AI-driven polarizing filter on the new M14 OLED panels, the screen can instantly become unreadable to anyone not looking directly at it.
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Contextual AI: Reports suggest the phone will automatically enable this mode if it detects an unknown face looking at your screen in public spaces like metros or flights.
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“Hey Plex”: Samsung is reportedly the first to integrate Perplexity AI at the system level, allowing users to bypass standard search for direct, cited answers using a dedicated voice hotword.
S26 Ultra: The 60W Performance King
The S26 Ultra is set to be the “performance benchmark” for the first half of 2026.
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Processor: Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 “For Galaxy,” which leaked benchmarks show hitting a staggering 3.72 million on AnTuTu v11.
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Charging: After years of 45W stagnation, the Ultra is moving to 60W fast charging, capable of hitting 75% in just 30 minutes.
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Camera: While the 200MP sensor remains, the focus is on AI-driven Scene Reconstruction and a new 50MP 5x Periscope lens that uses AI to maintain clarity even at 100x digital zoom.
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Design & Display: The M14 OLED Factor
The entire series is moving to M14 AMOLED panels, which are roughly 30% more energy-efficient and can hit a peak brightness of 3,000 nits.
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Unified Design: The base and Plus models are rumored to get slightly larger screens (6.3-inch and 6.7-inch), while the Ultra maintains its 6.9-inch footprint with even slimmer, symmetrical bezels.
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Rounded Curves: Early unboxing leaks suggest the Ultra has shifted toward slightly more rounded corners, making the massive device more comfortable for one-handed use.
Reality Check
Samsung is pushing AI hard. Still, the 5,000mAh battery on the Ultra hasn’t grown in size, while Chinese rivals like iQOO and Vivo are now packing 6,500mAh to 7,600mAh Silicon-Carbon batteries. Therefore, Samsung’s “all-day” claim relies entirely on the efficiency of the 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite and the M14 display. In fact, if you are a heavy 5G user or power gamer, the hardware upgrades might feel “incremental” rather than “revolutionary” despite the AI marketing.
The Loopholes
Samsung is offering a “Free Storage Upgrade” for pre-reservations in India. In fact, this is a “pricing loophole” to make the expected ₹8,000–₹10,000 price hike feel like a discount. Therefore, you aren’t really getting “free” storage; you are paying a premium for the base model that matches last year’s higher-tier price. Still, the “7-Year Update Promise” remains the industry’s best safety net, ensuring the S26 series stays relevant until 2033.
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What This Means for You
If you are currently using an S24 or S25 Ultra, the S26 Ultra is a luxury upgrade. However, if you are on an S21 or S22, this is the perfect leap. First, realize that 60W charging finally makes Samsung competitive in the speed race. Then, if you work in public spaces, the Zero-Peeking Privacy is a legitimate productivity tool that no other flagship currently offers.
Finally, understand that pre-orders in India begin at midnight. You should use the ₹2,699 voucher from your pre-reservation to grab the new Galaxy Buds 4, which are also expected to debut tonight. Before you buy, check the “Bank Cashback” offers, as ICICI and HDFC cards usually offer an instant ₹8,000–₹12,000 discount on launch day.
What’s Next
The live stream begins tonight at 11:30 PM IST on Samsung’s official YouTube channel. Then, the first retail units are expected to hit stores in India by March 5, with an open sale scheduled for March 11. Finally, look for the One UI 8.5 rollout schedule for older devices, which will reveal which of these new AI features will trickle down to the S25 and S24 series.
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