Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S26 Ultra, its latest flagship smartphone that brings modest hardware refinements alongside a suite of new AI capabilities. The device maintains the 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and S Pen support, while introducing a slightly thinner 0.31-inch profile and aluminum frame replacing last year's titanium construction.

Inside, the S26 Ultra packs Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip with 12GB or 16GB RAM and storage options ranging from 256GB to 1TB. A standout feature is the new Privacy Display technology that limits screen visibility when viewed from an angle. The camera system retains the same megapixel counts as its predecessor but features improved apertures on the wide and periscope lenses for better low-light performance.

The software experience sees significant AI enhancements, with Samsung adopting Perplexity as a system-level AI assistant alongside Google's Gemini. The Perplexity AI can be activated with a button press or voice command and integrates with Samsung apps, while Gemini gains background capabilities for tasks like booking rideshares. The Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at $1,300 and launches on March 11 in colors including Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, and Silver Shadow.