▲ Galaxy Unpacked 2026 was held at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.

▲JJournalists and visitors from all over the world wanted to know about the company’s next-generation Galaxy AI phone.

On February 25th, Samsung Electronics held Galaxy Unpacked 2026 in San Francisco and announced the Galaxy S26 series and Galaxy Buds4 series.

The event highlighted Samsung’s commitment to embed Galaxy AI deeper into everyday experiences, centered around three core pillars: reach, openness, and trust.

Samsung Newsroom participated in Galaxy Unpacked 2026, where a new era of AI integration took center stage.

Galaxy S26 series: Evolving agent AI

With the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung builds on its legacy of mobile AI innovation to deliver a more intelligent and seamless experience. At the heart of this evolution is agent AI.

“All breakthrough technologies follow a similar path: They start out as rare, expensive, and loudly praised wonders. But history-changing technologies fade into the background as they become infrastructure,” said TM Roh, CEO and Head of Device Experience (DX) at Samsung Electronics. “Infrastructure comes with responsibility. Infrastructure must work for everyone, everywhere. Today, there remains a gap between what AI promises and what people actually experience. Bridging that gap is where Galaxy continues to move forward.”

▲President Roh introduced Samsung’s vision for agent-based AI.

▲Galaxy 26 Ultra was unveiled in a video.

Galaxy AI: Everyday intelligence in action

Built on Galaxy AI, Call Screening summarizes incoming calls to identify who is calling and why, allowing users to quickly decide whether to answer or not.

New to the Galaxy S26 series, Nudge understands the context of conversations and presents relevant suggestions to keep users in the flow without switching between apps.

The latest version of Bixby supports real-time web searches, with results displayed directly within the conversation instead of redirecting users to the browser.

▲ Rachel Roberts, director of product management for Mobile eXperience (MX) at Samsung Electronics America, explained how the new Now Nudge helps users stay focused throughout the day.

Agentic AI: The foundation for personal and secure intelligence

Samsung is driving platform-level innovation that is personal, adaptive, and agentic. For AI to feel intuitive, it needs to understand context. And smartphones are uniquely positioned to provide that experience.

The Galaxy S26 series’ personal data engine (PDE) learns from the device’s user settings, and Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP) protects and isolates data within individual apps. Samsung Knox Vault adds another layer of protection by protecting sensitive information such as passwords, security keys, and biometrics in a purpose-built hardware environment.

▲ Won-Joon Choi, Chief Operating Officer of Mobile Experience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics, outlined the transition to an AI-powered platform across the operating system, data, and security architecture.

Google Partnership: Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible

First introduced in Galaxy Unpacked 2024, Circle to Search continues to expand. Users can now search for multiple objects within a single image, making visual discovery more seamless.

Samsung and Google also previewed the next evolution of Android, a more intelligent and agent-like platform powered by Google’s Gemini 3. The Galaxy S26 series will begin with an early preview as a Google Labs feature, with additional features rolling out over time.

▲ Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem at Google, highlighted the upgraded features of Circle to Search.

Performance built for AI: Power intelligent experiences

Delivering seamless on-device intelligence requires powerful performance. Samsung co-developed a custom application processor (AP) for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, featuring a 39% more powerful neural processing unit (NPU) and a 19% faster central processing unit (CPU).

Powered by Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5, Galaxy S26 Ultra delivers enhanced graphics and gaming performance. Redesigned thermal architecture, including the largest vapor chamber ever, improves thermal management and sustains performance. Optimized power efficiency extends battery life and fast charging reduces downtime.

▲ Mr. Roberts explained the performance enhancements of the Galaxy S26 series.

Privacy display: new layer of protection

The Galaxy S26 Ultra debuts Privacy Display, a display integration layer designed to limit side views while maintaining clarity and brightness.

With privacy in mind, users can turn this feature on or off and customize it for specific apps. Maximum privacy protection also helps shield sensitive information such as financial details.

▲Technology content creator Miles Franklin demonstrated the privacy display.

AI-powered camera: Make every shot smarter

The Galaxy S26 series features a front camera with AI ISP (Image Signal Processor) for improved detail and color accuracy. Across the camera system, nightgraphy video improves low-light capture, reduces grain, and maintains clarity even in darkness.

For creators, Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces professional camera tools including up to 8K recording with APV codec. Galaxy AI also simplifies everyday tasks with intelligent document scanning that automatically flattens, cleans, and transforms documents into ready-to-share files. AI-powered editing features further streamline creativity, allowing users to remove distractions and enhance images directly on their device.

▲ Mason Page, Director of Digital Experience Innovation at Samsung Electronics, explained how AI can help capture clearer images.

Galaxy Buds4 Series: Refine your audio experience

Also announced at Galaxy Unpacked 2026, the Galaxy Buds4 series features a refreshed Blade design and enhanced audio performance. Galaxy Buds4 Pro features a 2-way speaker system with a wide woofer and sophisticated tuning for richer bass and clearer treble.

Call quality has been upgraded with AI-powered noise reduction to minimize background noise and improve voice clarity. Super Wideband further expands audio bandwidth for clearer, more natural calls, while hands-free access to Bixby, Gemini and Perplexity makes everyday interactions more seamless.

▲ Andrew Short, Mobile Business Manager for Mobile eXperience (MX) at Samsung Electronics America, revealed the Galaxy Buds4 series.

Sustainability: Expanding the Galaxy for Earth

Samsung reaffirmed its Galaxy for the Planet initiative, announced the completion of its 2025 environmental commitment, introduced new 2030 targets focused on resource circularity, water management, and biodiversity conservation, and expanded its initiatives to address broader environmental impacts.

As part of its new goals for 2030, Samsung plans to incorporate at least one recycled material in every mobile device, promote water management at its 10 mobile device manufacturing sites around the world, replenish 110% of its water consumption to local communities, and protect ecosystems larger than the combined footprint of these sites.

In line with this commitment, the Galaxy S26 series expands the use of recycled materials into key components of every mobile device, including recycled plastic, glass, cobalt, and now recycled tantalum.

Ocean Mode, a camera feature originally developed to optimize underwater image capture to aid coral reef recovery, has been expanded to Expert RAW, allowing Galaxy users to experience advanced underwater photography.

▲ Kathy Smith, Samsung Electronics’ senior manager of corporate sustainability and U.S. public relations, spoke about the company’s sustainability efforts.

Experience Zone: Where Galaxy innovation comes to life

After the event, attendees explored the experience zone and received hands-on demonstrations of the Galaxy S26 series and Galaxy Buds4 series.

▲The product experience zone where visitors gather at Galaxy Unpacked 2026.

“The thing that stood out the most was the Galaxy S26 Ultra and all its new features,” said Kara Lewis, an American content creator and member of Team Galaxy. “My favorite feature is the Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Just turn it on or off to easily hide sensitive information like bank account details while you’re out and about.”

▲Carla Lewis, American content creator and member of Team Galaxy

“It was my fifth Unpacked and I still get excited about new AI features and devices every year,” said Greek technology journalist Timos Koremenos. “Now Nudge by Galaxy AI makes my smartphone feel like my agent.

▲ Timos Koremenos, Greek technology journalist

“I was amazed at how quickly Creative Studio creates stickers using AI. As a mother of three, I’m sure I’ll be playing with this feature with my kids every day,” said Oksana Bykova, a Samsung member in the US.

“I love how Super Clear Call on the Galaxy Buds4 series allows the other party to hear me clearly,” said Gerson Manzanares, a Samsung member in Nicaragua. “Now you can use your earbuds to call anyone, anywhere, without any distractions.”

▲ (From left) Oksana Bykova, a member of Samsung USA, and Gerson Manzanares, a member of Samsung Nicaragua.

With the Galaxy S26 series and Galaxy Buds4 series, Samsung continues its shift towards AI as infrastructure, technology that works quietly in the background to support your daily life. Galaxy AI combines personalization, performance, and protection to deliver a more seamless and intuitive mobile experience.