All articles tagged with #samsung galaxy s26
Counterpoint Research's Q2 2026 global market-share report shows the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra was the top-selling Android phone, marking the first time an ultra-premium device led Android sales in a quarter; the Galaxy S26 and several Galaxy A models also appeared on the list, while iPhones dominated the overall top three.
Samsung has delayed the fifth One UI 9 beta for the Galaxy S26 lineup to next week to allow final reviews and quality improvements, with the OTA rollout to S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra in multiple regions when the build goes live.
Samsung publicly updates its August 2026 One UI rollout roadmap, largely keeping Julyâs cadence: flagship devices get monthly patches for up to six years before moving to quarterly updates, while non-flagship devices stay on quarterly patches. The August security patch bundle includes 56 fixes (38 from Android and 18 One UI improvements), with device eligibility and exact rollout timing outlined for various Galaxy lines in regional schedules.
Samsung has delayed the Galaxy S26 One UI 9.0 Beta 4 rollout by a week to focus on stability after issues reported in earlier beta versions. Beta history shows Beta 1 on May 12, Beta 2 on May 26, Beta 3 on June 8, with Beta 4 tentatively planned for July 13. Reported bugs include a laggy Quick Panel and problems with hiding/unhiding apps in Secure Folder, which Samsung aims to address before release.
Samsungâs Galaxy S26 received its first software update, which removed the Perplexity AI wake word âHey Plex,â requiring users to launch the assistant manually; Samsung says the wake word will return as âHey Perplexityâ as it transitions to a new naming, reflecting a broader shift to a multi-assistant AI strategy that includes Gemini and Bixby.
Samsungâs Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus bring incremental updatesâa bigger battery on the S26, faster charging on the Plus, and refreshed chipsetsâwhile deeper design and camera changes are minimal and magnetic Qi2 charging is still absent. Prices have risen, and the two phones largely match last yearâs models in feel and performance, delivering solid allâday battery life and AI enhancements, but offering little incentive to upgrade if you already own an S23/S24/S25.
Samsung announces the Galaxy S26 lineup â S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra â with 256GB base storage, faster internals, and AI features. Prices start at $899 for the S26, $1,099 for the S26 Plus, and $1,299 for the S26 Ultra, the latter adding a customizable privacy screen; the Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro introduce a rounded design with 6-7 hours of battery life and launch at $179 and $249, respectively. Pre-orders begin today with a March 11 launch. Samsung did not announce an S26 Edge or a new Galaxy Watch at this event, and the Galaxy Ringâs future remains uncertain amid patent litigation.
Google's Gemini voice assistant can automate tasks in popular mobile apps (starting with Uber and food services like Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Grubhub) by opening apps, running actions in the background, and prompting for missing details before you confirm. The feature, in early preview, uses Model Context Protocol integrations or App Functions for backend automation, or falls back to navigating the app UI. Privacy controls are emphasized, with data not used for advertising and options to delete access. Availability begins on the Galaxy S26 in the US and South Korea from March 11, with a broader rollout to Pixel devices and more apps planned later this year.
EU battery labels for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series show a downgrade to 1,200 charge cycles (80% capacity after 1,200 cycles) for the S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, down from the S25âs 2,000 cycles; however, EU tests also show improved energy efficiency, with runtimes of about 51 hours for the S26 and 55 hours for the S26+ and S26 Ultra (compared with S25âs ~37â45 hours), suggesting the trade-off may be offset ahead of Galaxy Unpacked.
Samsung's Galaxy S26 may be the first non-Pixel device to use Google's Scam Detection via Gemini Nano on-device AI and Android CallCore, offering spam-call protection with privacy benefits, though official availability remains unclear ahead of next month's launch.
Rumors from a Finnish retailer listing and tipsters suggest the Galaxy S26 base model will move from 128GB to a 256GB starting option (with a possible 512GB). The S26 Plus/Ultra storage may stay similar (256GB/512GB and 1TB for Ultra). Price rumors place the base at about $799, with the Plus at $999 and Ultra at $1,299. A slight battery boost is also rumored for the base model (around 4,300mAh) and faster charging across the line, with a February launch anticipated.
Samsung's Galaxy S26 series is expected to be officially announced on February 25, with a global release date set for March 11, including the S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra models, with pre-orders likely starting shortly after the announcement.
The article discusses the upcoming support for Qi2 wireless charging in Android devices, highlighting the Clicks Communicator as the newest confirmed device with Qi2 support, and anticipates more devices from Samsung and other brands in 2026, with ongoing developments at CES 2026.
Samsung is set to launch the Galaxy S26 series with new camera features like 3x Zoom HDR and maintain current pricing levels despite hardware cost increases. The company is also focusing on advancing its semiconductor technology with a new 2nm process to compete with TSMC, and has released updates to its SSD management and UI design to enhance user experience.
Samsung is not increasing the prices of its upcoming Galaxy S26 series, which are expected to start at $799 for the S26, $999 for the S26+, and $1,299 for the S26 Ultra, with a launch event possibly in late February 2026. The series may feature a new 3x Zoom HDR camera and other enhancements, while Samsung also aims to leverage TSMC's 2nm process technology to attract major tech companies for its semiconductor foundry.