Galaxy S26 Ultra: Privacy Screen & AI Mishaps Emerge

Summary

Samsung's new Galaxy S26 Ultra offers a truly innovative privacy display that blacks out the screen from angles beyond 15 degrees and can be software-controlled to activate only for specific apps or sensitive information, even blanking out regions like notification bubbles. However, a significant disappointment is the continued absence of MagSafe-style magnets for charging, with Samsung claiming most users opt for cases anyway. Charging speeds see an improvement, with the S26 Ultra supporting 60-watt wired charging, reaching 75% in 30 minutes, and 25-watt wireless charging. Battery capacity remains at 5,000 mAh. AI-powered task automation, a partnership with Google, aims to automate actions like booking rides, but early demonstrations showed it struggled to complete tasks directly, instead preparing the information for manual input in apps. Camera upgrades focus on larger apertures and refined processing for low-light video, though the ultrawide lens saw no improvement. A new 360-degree stabilization feature in video allows for smooth, wide-ranging movement. The S Pen remains unchanged from last year. Samsung's experimentation with foldable phones in the past year has apparently set a context where this S26 Ultra's privacy display feels like a notable innovation. Pre-orders for the $1,300 device are open now.