Samsung has officially taken the wraps off its latest flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S26 series, confirming a major leap forward in on-device artificial intelligence. Described as the company’s “third-generation AI phones,” the lineup – comprising the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra – is engineered to simplify everyday tasks by working proactively in the background. Alongside the global announcement, Samsung South Africa has revealed local pricing and pre-order benefits, confirming that the devices will be available for pre-order from 26 February to 19 March 2026.
A New Era of Effortless AI
The core philosophy behind the Galaxy S26 series is to make technology invisible, allowing users to focus on results rather than processes. The devices are powered by the most adaptive Galaxy AI[1] experiences yet, designed to manage plans, find information, and refine content with fewer steps.
“We believe AI should be something people can depend on every day, designed to work consistently for everyone and without the need for expertise,” said TM Roh, CEO and Head of Device eXperience Division at Samsung Electronics.
“With the Galaxy S26 series, we focused on making AI feel effortless by designing it to complete tasks naturally, working quietly in the background so people can focus on what matters.”
Performance Redefined
Under the hood, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is powered by a customized chipset – the Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy – delivering significant gains across the board. Samsung notes a 19% increase in CPU performance, a 39% boost in NPU performance for seamless AI features, and a 24% improvement in GPU performance for richer visuals and smoother gameplay.
To sustain this power, the Ultra model features a redesigned Vapor Chamber with improved heat dissipation, ensuring the device remains cool during intensive tasks like gaming or video capture. Battery anxiety is also addressed with Super-Fast Charging 3.0, which can push the device to a 75% charge in just 30 minutes.
Privacy at a Pixel Level
In an age where data security is paramount, Samsung is introducing a world-first with the Galaxy S26 Ultra: a built-in Privacy Display. Unlike traditional stick-on privacy filters, this integrated hardware solution controls how pixels disperse light. This ensures the user enjoys a clear, bright display from a direct viewing angle, while limiting visibility for onlookers from the side. Users can customize the setting to activate in sensitive apps or when entering PINs, reinforcing Samsung’s commitment to “privacy at a pixel level.”
The Ultimate Camera System
The Galaxy S26 Ultra pushes mobile photography further with wider camera apertures[7] that capture more light for richer low-light details. Enhanced Nightography Video[8] keeps footage clear in dim settings, while upgraded Super Steady[9] stabilization now includes a horizontal lock option for consistent framing during action shots.
Editing is equally intuitive with the upgraded Photo Assist[11] suite. Users can now use natural language to describe edits, such as changing a scene from day to night, or cleaning up unwanted elements in photos. The new Creative Studio[12] allows users to turn sketches or prompts into polished visuals like stickers or wallpapers without switching apps.
South African Pricing and Pre-order Offers
South African consumers will have the opportunity to secure the devices during the pre-order window from 26 February to 19 March 2026. During this period, Samsung is offering an exclusive deal to double the storage and save up to R5,000.
The devices will be available in a unified color palette, including Cobalt Violet, White, Black, and Sky Blue[23]. The recommended retail prices are as follows:
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Samsung Galaxy S26 (256GB): From R20,999
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Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus (256GB): From R25,999
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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB): From R30,999
For added protection, Samsung offers Samsung Care+[24] comprehensive coverage from a once-off fee of just R799, covering accidental damage and providing certified expert support.
With seven years of security updates guaranteed, the Galaxy S26 series is positioned not just as a technological marvel for 2026, but as a long-term, secure investment for South African users.
