Galaxy S26 Ultra Launches With Privacy Display, Agentic AI Push As Samsung Targets India’s Premium Buyers

Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S26 Ultra, positioning it as the most advanced device in its lineup and a clear statement of intent in India’s ultra-premium smartphone market. At 7.9mm, it is the slimmest Ultra Samsung has built. But the bigger headline is privacy and AI. 

World’s First Built-In Privacy Display

The Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces what Samsung calls the world’s first built-in Privacy Display on a smartphone. Unlike third-party privacy screen guards that reduce brightness and compromise colour accuracy, this feature is engineered at the display level.

The system combines hardware and software to restrict viewing angles without affecting the primary user’s experience. Samsung says the display remains immersive, while pixel-level protection ensures that content becomes unreadable from side angles.

For Indian users who frequently use their phones in shared spaces such as metros, flights, offices and cafés, this addresses a practical concern. It is not a cosmetic upgrade but a hardware rethink aimed at real-world usage.

Snapdragon Power and Faster Charging

The Galaxy S26 Ultra runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy. Samsung claims this delivers its best performance yet, targeting heavy users, gamers and creators.

Charging speeds have also been upgraded. Super Fast Charging 3.0 enables the device to reach up to 75 percent in 30 minutes. In India, where long workdays and travel-heavy lifestyles dominate the premium segment, fast top-ups remain a key selling point.

Camera System Focused on Low Light and Video

Samsung continues to anchor the Ultra branding in imaging. The Galaxy S26 Ultra features wider apertures for improved low-light photography and enhanced Nightography Video.

Super Steady has been upgraded to deliver more stable handheld footage. AI ISP improvements extend to the selfie camera, aiming to deliver more natural skin tones and finer details under mixed lighting conditions.

Notably, the S26 Ultra is the first Galaxy device to support the Advanced Professional Video standard, allowing efficient compression of high-quality video. This is a clear push toward content creators and mobile filmmakers, a segment that is expanding rapidly in India.

Entering the Agentic AI Phase

With the S26 series, Samsung is moving beyond feature-based AI into what it calls an “agentic” future.

Now Nudge delivers contextual suggestions in real time, helping users act without switching apps. An upgraded Bixby functions as a conversational device agent, allowing natural-language navigation of settings and device controls.

The device also deepens integration with AI agents such as Gemini and Perplexity. The idea is to make AI proactive rather than reactive, handling tasks in the background so users can focus on outcomes.

Security remains central. The S26 Ultra offers Private Album, Knox Matrix protection, seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates, reinforcing long-term reliability for India’s premium buyers.

India Price and Availability

Samsung has retained the price of the Galaxy S25 Ultra for its latest flagship. It costs ₹1,39,999 for the 256GB variant, ₹1,59,999 for the 512GB model, and ₹1,89,999 for the top-tier 1TB storage model. The device will be available via Samsung.com, major online platforms and offline retail channels across the country in Cobalt Blue, Black, Sky Blue, and White.