Your Next Samsung Galaxy: Price Hikes, Privacy Screens, and AI Refinements

You Won't See a Massive Overhaul with the Galaxy S26

Let's be real: the Galaxy S26 series isn't about to reinvent the wheel. Instead of a radical redesign, you're getting a refined experience focused on smart optimizations, particularly in artificial intelligence. Samsung is doubling down on making existing features *better*, rather than throwing in a bunch of entirely new ones. As Wired reports, there's “a bunch of new AI features baked into the phones too,” signaling a clear direction for the upcoming lineup.

Keep Your Screen Private: Introducing Privacy Display

Worried about prying eyes? The Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces a clever solution: 'Privacy Display' technology. Built directly into the OLED screen, this feature keeps your sensitive information safe from side-viewers. You can finally ditch those bulky, often frustrating, third-party privacy screen protectors. Wired details that it “prevents stray eyes from peeping over your shoulder at sensitive information on your screen—no need to apply a third-party privacy screen protector,” offering a more seamless and secure experience.

Your Wallet: How the S26 Pricing Stacks Up

Prepare for a slight price adjustment. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will hold steady with the price of the previous generation, but you’ll see a $100 increase for both the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ models. This bump is largely due to rising component costs, specifically RAM. According to Wired, “The Galaxy S26 and S26+ are getting a $100 price increase—likely due to a RAM bump, as RAM is expensive these days.”

Aluminum Frame and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Power Your S26 Ultra

Samsung is switching things up with the S26 Ultra’s build. You’ll find an aluminum frame, mirroring a recent move by Apple with its iPhone 17 Pro. Under the hood, the S26 Ultra will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. This chip is designed to handle demanding tasks and unlock advanced AI capabilities.

Imagine this: you can ask Gemini to book an Uber to the airport, and it will launch the app and complete the booking for you in the background – just as you would. However, reports indicate that Samsung’s S26 Ultra may fall slightly behind competitors like the OnePlus 15 in battery technology, so keep that in mind.

What This Means For You

If you’re already invested in the Samsung ecosystem, the S26 series offers incremental but worthwhile upgrades. The AI features promise to streamline your daily tasks, and the Privacy Display is a genuinely useful addition for anyone concerned about screen visibility in public. However, if you’re on an older Galaxy S series phone (S22 or earlier), this might be a good time to upgrade to take advantage of the latest processor and features. Be prepared for a slightly higher price tag on the base and plus models.

The Bottom Line

The Galaxy S26 series isn’t a revolution, but a smart evolution. You’re getting a polished, refined experience with a focus on AI and privacy. While the price increase on the S26 and S26+ is worth noting, the S26 Ultra continues to be a top-tier flagship contender. Keep an eye out for official release dates and detailed specs as we get closer to launch.