The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is officially out. Announced at Samsung’s Unpacked event and released shortly after, it brings a new Privacy Display feature, faster charging, and Galaxy AI upgrades to Samsung’s flagship line. Here’s a full breakdown of the release date, specs, and pricing.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Release Date
The Galaxy S26 Ultra was announced on February 25, 2026 at Samsung’s Unpacked event, with pre-orders opening the same day. The phone officially went on sale on March 11, 2026.
Full Specifications
| Display | 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, with Privacy Display feature |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| RAM | 12GB (16GB on higher storage configurations) |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Rear cameras | 200MP main (wider f/1.4 aperture) + telephoto + ultrawide, quad-camera system |
| Front camera | 12MP, wider field of view for group selfies |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh, up to 65W wired charging (0-75% in ~30 minutes), 25W wireless |
| Build | Titanium frame, Corning Gorilla Armor 2 |
| Software | Android 16 with One UI 8.5 |
| Colors | Black, Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, White |
| Launch price | Starting around $1,299.99 (256GB); 1TB variant carries a price increase over the S25 Ultra’s equivalent tier |
What’s New: Privacy Display
The headline new feature is Privacy Display, which can black out portions of the screen from side angles so people near you can’t see notifications, photos, or passwords. It can be set to trigger automatically for notifications, password entry, or specific apps, and is exclusive to the Ultra model this generation.
Camera Upgrades
Megapixel counts stay the same as the S25 Ultra, but Samsung widened the main camera’s aperture, letting the sensor capture significantly more light for brighter low-light photos. Galaxy AI additions include an expanded Photo Assist that can add elements to images (not just remove them), a new Creative Studio for AI-generated stickers and wallpapers, and cross-app Audio Eraser support for YouTube, Netflix, and Instagram.
Battery and Charging
Battery capacity holds steady at 5,000 mAh, matching the S25 Ultra, but charging speed jumps to 65W wired (up from 45W), getting the phone to roughly 75% in about 30 minutes. A refined battery algorithm also adapts to usage patterns to optimize power draw throughout the day.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra
- New Privacy Display feature (S26 Ultra exclusive)
- Faster 65W wired charging (up from 45W)
- Wider main camera aperture for better low light
- Newer Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and Android 16/One UI 8.5
- Same 5,000 mAh battery capacity and starting price
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Galaxy S26 Ultra released?
It was announced February 25, 2026 and went on sale March 11, 2026.
Does the Galaxy S26 Ultra support the S Pen?
Yes, built-in S Pen support continues on the Ultra model.
What is the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s starting price?
It starts at approximately $1,299.99 for the base 256GB configuration.
