Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Launched in India with Privacy Display and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

The day has finally arrived for the official launch of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. After months of leaks, rumours and build-ups, the top-of-the-line Galaxy S series phone of 2026 is finally official. It brings an all-new display technology, numerous Galaxy AI features and a flagship processor to the table.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Specifications and Features

Starting with the design, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra brings considerable changes while keeping the core elements of the Galaxy S25 Ultra intact. The phone now adopts the rear camera design of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with a pill-shaped vertical camera island. It houses three of the quad cameras and has the fourth lens and Laser Auto Focus sensor beside the camera island.

Moreover, unlike the boxy design of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the Galaxy S26 Ultra features ever so slightly rounded R-corners. It offers a better palm-friendly design that doesn't dig into the hands. Also, the display bezels are now thinner than the last-gen model. The phone also retains the S-Pen support, with the volume and power key placed on the right side of the brushed aluminium frame.

All in all, it is clear that Samsung has worked on the previous pain points of the Galaxy S25 Ultra and has delivered an elevated user experience with the Galaxy S26 Ultra design. However, that is not where the upgrades end. The newest Galaxy phone is packed to the brim with the latest hardware and software features.

One of the most talked about upgrades is the new Privacy Display tech, which has debuted with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. It brings a new anti-peeping display coating, which is implemented at the hardware level. Once turned on, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will shield the contents of the screen when viewed from the sides and/or from the top and bottom. It ensures you are only looking at what's visible on your screen.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra with Privacy Display — Image Credit: Samsung

With the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the brand has unlocked a suite of new AI-focused camnera experiences. It introduces Generative Restoration, Environmental Alteration and Image Merging AI-backed features to edit and customise images on the go.

Moreover, with OneUI 8.5, Samsung has supercharged Bixby with multi-modal AI capabilities in partnership with Perplexity. It turns the smart assistant into a full-fledged AI chatbot, which can be activated with the Hey, Plex! trigger word.

Aside from these new features, the all-new Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra also come with the following hardware upgrades:

6.9-inch Quad HD+ Infinity-O-Edge LTPO Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, with 3,000 nits of peak brightness
Corning Gorilla Armor 2 protection
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor
12 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1 TB of UFS 4.0 storage
Android 16-based One UI 8.5 stable update
200 MP main camera with f/1.4 aperture, 50 MP 120° ultra-wide angle lens, 10 MP 3x telephoto sensor and 50 MP 5x periscope telephoto camera with f/2.9 aperture
12 MP selfie camera with f/2.2 aperture
8K @ 60 FPS video recording support
5,000mAh battery with 60W fast USB-C charging and 25W wireless Qi2 charging
Ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, dual-SIM 5G, NFC, GPS, Satellite Communication, S-Pen support and Ultra-wideband Chip support
IP68 dust and water resistance

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra new One UI features — Image Credit: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Price in India and Sale Date

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra starting price in India is set at Rs 1,39,999 for the base 12 GB + 256 GB model. It also comes in 512 GB and 1 TB storage options, and they cost Rs 1,59,999 and Rs 1,89,999, respectively.

All three configurations are currently up for pre-order via the Samsung India website. It will also be sold in India via leading e-commerce platforms like Flipkart and Amazon. Interested folks can score the brand new Ultra phone in Black, White, Silver Shadow, Sky Blue, Cobalt Violet and Pink Gold colourways.