With the global unveiling just hours away in San Francisco, Samsung is positioning its upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup as more than a routine smartphone upgrade. The launch comes at a time when competition from Apple and Google is intensifying, while artificial intelligence continues to reshape the premium smartphone experience.
The Galaxy S26 series is expected to include the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and the flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra. The company is shifting focus toward AI-first smartphones, prioritising usability, productivity, and software intelligence rather than major hardware changes. For India, where premium smartphone adoption above Rs 80,000 is steadily growing, the launch is seen as strategically important.
India has emerged as a key premium market for Samsung. Company President, South West Asia, JB Park, highlighted the rapid growth of the premium segment, making this launch crucial for strengthening Samsung’s flagship position. The brand aims to improve differentiation and ecosystem value to attract consistent buyers.
Leaks suggest incremental upgrades in design and performance. The Galaxy S26 Ultra may feature a thinner body with rounded edges and a unified camera design similar to recent foldable devices.
Expected hardware upgrades include:
— Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor for Ultra
— Possible Exynos 2600 variant in India
— Faster LPDDR5X RAM
— 120Hz AMOLED displays across models
— Improved charging on Ultra
The Ultra is expected to retain a 6.9-inch AMOLED display and a 5,000mAh battery, with charging speeds potentially rising to 60W wired charging. Camera hardware may remain largely unchanged, including a 200-megapixel primary sensor, while improvements focus on AI-based image processing, skin tones, and low-light performance.
Pre-launch teasers indicate cameras moving “beyond capture,” enabling editing through natural language commands. Expected AI features include natural language editing, smarter assistants, writing and translation tools, enhanced privacy display technology, and AI-driven camera optimisation. Samsung is also reportedly strengthening on-device AI processing through upgraded NPU performance to reduce cloud dependency.
India’s multilingual usage makes live translation and productivity tools especially relevant. Pre-orders are expected to begin immediately after the 25 February launch, supported by trade-in offers and storage upgrades.
Expected India pricing:
— Galaxy S26: Rs 79,999 – Rs 82,999
— Galaxy S26+: around Rs 99,999
— Galaxy S26 Ultra: Rs 1,29,999 – Rs 1,38,999
Higher variants may cross Rs 1.6 lakh.
If Galaxy AI delivers meaningful real-world benefits, the S26 series could signal a new phase where AI becomes central to flagship smartphones.
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