Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 & 4 Pro

The February 2026 Samsung Unpacked event signalled “Galaxy AI,” from the word go. The launch featured the Galaxy S26 series, led by the Flagship S26 Ultra that prioritises on-device privacy via a new pixel-level shielding privacy display. 

Hardware updates in the wearables category were equally significant, with the Buds4 Pro introducing a bezel-less woofer and AI-driven gesture controls. Here’s what came out of the Samsung Unplugged 2026 event. 

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 

The undisputed MVP of the launch event was the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. While it builds on the solid foundation of its predecessors, it doesn’t just play it safe; it introduces a new integrated Privacy Screen tech integrated in the display which dims the screen partially or fully to viewers from the side. 

Under the hood, the S26 Ultra debuts a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. This is said to deliver a 19 per cent CPU boost, a 24 per cent jump in GPU performance, and a massive 39 per cent improvement in NPU efficiency for AI tasks. Samsung has also expanded the internal vapor chamber for better thermal management. 

While the camera megapixel counts remain familiar with 200MP main sensor, 50 MP ultra-wide and a dual-telephoto setup (3x and 10x) — the hardware has evolved with wider apertures across the board significantly making this a low-light powerhouse. Charging also gets a much-needed bump with 65W wired charging that hits 75 per cent charge in just 30 minutes. 

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra available in Cobalt Violet, Black, Sky Blue and White, the S26 Ultra starts at ₹1,39,999 (12GB/256GB). The 512GB variant sits at ₹1,59,999, while the maxed-out 16GB/1TB edition (exclusive to Cobalt Violet) retails for ₹1,89,999. 

S26+ and the S26 

The Samsung Galaxy S26+ (6.7-inch display) and S26 (6.3-inch display) come with the Exynos 2600 chip. Camera specs remain similar to previous years. 

The Galaxy S26+ is available in Cobalt Violet and Black colour options. The device is priced at ₹1,19,999 for the 12GB/256GB variant and ₹1,39,999 for the 12GB/512GB model. 

The Galaxy S26 is available in Cobalt Violet, Black, Sky Blue and White. The handset is priced at ₹87,999 for the 12GB/256GB storage variant and ₹1,07,999 for the 12GB/512GB model. 

AI and Privacy 

The most talked about feature from the unplugged event was the Privacy Display for the S26 Ultra. By controlling how pixels disperse light, the display keeps content clear for the user while limiting what others can see. 

Users can fully customise when the privacy feature activates. The system offers partial screen privacy, which selectively limits the visibility of notification pop-ups to keep private messages from prying eyes. For complete discretion, a maximum privacy protection mode dims the entire display when viewed from an angle, ensuring content remains visible only to the person holding the device. 

There is AI-powered Call Screening that helps filter unknown callers and summarises call intent, helping users manage calls safely. Privacy Alerts notify users in real time when apps request access to sensitive data. 

There are also AI features including Now Nudge for timely relevant suggestions that adapt to real-time context, Now Brief for personalised briefing based on the user’s daily schedule. 

The number of AI agents on offer has grown with Bixby, Gemini and now Perplexity joining the AI agents supported by the smartphone. 

Pre-order for Galaxy S26 series started from February 25 across leading online and retail stores and available from March 11. Colours available include Cobalt Violet, White, Black and Sky Blue and few Samsung.com exclusive colourways — Pink Gold and Silver Shadow for the smartphones. 

Galaxy Buds 4, Buds 4 Pro

Samsung also announced the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro priced at ₹22,999 and the Galaxy Buds 4 priced at ₹16,999. 

While, the premium Galaxy Buds 4 Pro aims at the premium TWS segment, the Galaxy Buds 4 looks to compete with similarly priced mid-range earbuds from other brands. 

Both buds feature active noise cancellation. Samsung has positioned the Buds 4 Pro with deeper bass response and continues to offer high-resolution wireless streaming. 

The Buds 4 Pro last a maximum of six hours on a single charge with active noise cancellation turned on, or seven hours with it off. The case brings that to a total of 26 hours or 30 hours. 

Published on March 4, 2026