Samsung Electronics unveiled the Galaxy S26 series Wednesday at Galaxy Unpacked 2026 in San Francisco, introducing what the company calls the industry's first "agentic AI" smartphone integrating three separate AI systems—Google's Gemini 3 for autonomous task delegation across third-party apps, Perplexity for web queries triggered by "Hey, Plex," and an upgraded Bixby for on-device assistance. The launch gives Google's Gemini technology a major mobile foothold before Apple's long-delayed Gemini-powered Siri overhaul arrives.
The S26 lineup features three devices—the 6.3-inch S26, 6.7-inch S26+, and 6.9-inch S26 Ultra flagship. All three emphasize what Samsung describes as "intuitive, proactive and adaptive Galaxy AI experiences" designed to simplify daily tasks by reducing steps required and handling complex operations in the background.
Gemini 3 Powers Autonomous App Actions
The critical advancement over the S25 series: Gemini can now take autonomous action inside third-party apps, not just Samsung's native applications. Users can delegate multi-step tasks like booking Uber rides, organizing dinner orders, or building grocery carts by long-pressing the side button to activate Gemini.
Google's blog post Wednesday explained that Gemini 3 series models handle the heavy lifting—understanding user goals, asking follow-up questions when needed, and proactively suggesting the next logical task. The AI agent can reach into third-party services and handle operations in the background without manual user intervention.
Won-Joon Choi, Samsung's mobile division president and chief operating officer, said the strategy builds "an open, inclusive AI ecosystem with Galaxy AI as orchestrator." Omar Saheb, Samsung's regional vice president for marketing in Middle East and North Africa, added "for people to really start using AI and make it mainstream, we need to make sure that it's accessible, and they have the trust and confidence in it."
Privacy Display Debuts on S26 Ultra
The S26 Ultra introduces the mobile industry's first built-in Privacy Display—a technology Samsung spent over five years developing. The display controls how individual pixels disperse light, keeping the screen readable for users viewing head-on while obscuring content from side angles. This blocks views from sides, above, and below without requiring separate screen protectzors.
Users can assign Privacy Display activation to the side button's double-press function and adjust protection levels in settings. The feature applies selectively when entering PINs, patterns, passwords, or when notification popups appear—particularly useful on crowded public transportation or in elevators.
Performance and Hardware Advances
Galaxy S26 Ultra delivers 19% CPU performance improvement, 39% NPU performance boost for always-on AI features, and 24% GPU enhancement over the previous generation. A redesigned vapor chamber with thermal interface material positioned along processor sides improves heat dissipation during demanding activities like gaming, multitasking, and video capture.
The device introduces Super Fast Charging 3.0, reaching 75% charge in 30 minutes. Samsung's proprietary ProScaler technology improves image scaling so photos and videos appear richer and clearer, while the mobile Digital Natural Image engine delivers more lifelike colors through image processing with four times the precision compared to previous generation.
Google Scam Detection Integration
Google's advanced Scam Detection now operates directly in the Samsung Phone app on S26 devices using on-device Gemini models. If potential scams are detected during calls, users receive instant audio and haptic alerts. Analysis happens entirely on-device with the feature automatically disabled for contacts, protecting privacy while call audio is processed ephemerally with no conversation recording, storage, or transmission to Google or third parties.
Apple's Delayed Competition
The timing positions Samsung significantly ahead of Apple, which confirmed a multiyear Gemini agreement reportedly worth $1 billion annually in January to overhaul Siri. However, Bloomberg reported earlier this month that Apple's rollout timeline keeps slipping—features initially targeted for iOS 26.4 in March or April now face delays potentially pushing some capabilities to May or September.
Samsung overtook Apple as the world's top smartphone seller in 2024, ending Apple's roughly 12-year market dominance. Galaxy S26 preorders are live with devices releasing March 11, 2026.
