Samsung Unveils Galaxy S26 Series with Perplexity AI Integration

New flagship phones boast upgraded cameras, faster performance, and wireless charging enhancements.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Samsung is set to unveil its latest Galaxy S26 lineup at its Unpacked event on February 25 in San Francisco. The new series includes three models - the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra - featuring design changes like a vertical camera bump, upgraded internals like the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and enhanced camera systems. Samsung is also integrating Perplexity AI into the phones, allowing for deeper voice assistant and search functionality. Pricing is expected to see a moderate increase due to industry-wide component shortages.

Why it matters

The Galaxy S series remains one of the most important product lines for Samsung, setting the tone for the company's smartphone offerings each year. The S26 lineup will compete directly with Apple's upcoming iPhone 17, making the innovations and pricing critical for Samsung to maintain its market share. The integration of Perplexity AI also signals Samsung's efforts to keep pace with AI-powered features on rival devices.

The details

The Galaxy S26 series will run Samsung's One UI 8 (or 8.5) software based on Android 16. Key upgrades include a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, with 12GB of RAM across the lineup. Camera systems will see modest improvements, with the S26 Ultra retaining a 200MP primary sensor. Wireless charging will get a boost, with support for the new Qi2 standard and optional magnetic wireless charging accessories. Pricing is expected to rise by $40-$60 per model due to industry component shortages.

  • Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S26 series on February 25, 2026 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET in San Francisco.
  • The phones are expected to go on sale in the weeks following the Unpacked event.

The players

Samsung

A multinational electronics company and the world's largest smartphone manufacturer.

Perplexity AI

An artificial intelligence company that provides advanced language models and search functionality, which Samsung is integrating into the Galaxy S26 series.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“As this situation is unprecedented, no company is immune to its impact.”

— TM Roh, CEO, Samsung (Reuters)

What’s next

Samsung is expected to provide more details on the Galaxy S26 series and its Perplexity AI integration during the Unpacked event on February 25. Pre-orders for the phones will likely open shortly after the announcement, with the devices hitting stores in the following weeks.

The takeaway

The Galaxy S26 lineup represents Samsung's latest effort to stay competitive in the premium smartphone market, with a focus on AI-powered features, camera upgrades, and refined design. While pricing may see a moderate increase, the integration of Perplexity AI could give Samsung an edge in the race for the most capable virtual assistant on mobile devices.