Trending Now - Samsung Galaxy S26 Launch Fails to Impress Consumers
WHO:
Samsung, a South Korean multinational electronics company
Tushar Mehta, contributor at Android Authority
Megan Ellis, contributor at Android Authority
WHAT:
The Galaxy S26 series launched globally on March 11th, 2026, marking the end of pre-orders and the start of global availability.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra accounted for 70% of global pre-orders, which is a 10% increase in its share of total pre-orders compared to the previous year.
The Galaxy S26 is priced at $899.99 for the 256GB model, while the Galaxy S26 Plus is priced at $1,099.99 for the same storage capacity, both $100 more expensive than last year's models.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra's multi-core score on Geekbench 6 is 10,827, which is a significant increase from the S25's score of 10,049.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra's single-core score is 3,524, higher than some elite gaming laptops.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra features a new Privacy Display that allows users to hide screen contents from nearby viewers on a pixel level.
Samsung has updated their trade-in values for the Galaxy S26 series, with the best trade-in offers significantly reduced compared to pre-order values. For example, the trade-in value for a Galaxy S26 Ultra has dropped to “up to” $720, down nearly $200 from previous offers.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra received a multi-core score of 10,827 on Geekbench 6, which is 10.7% higher than the iPhone 17 Pro Max's score of 9,778.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra's single-core score is 3,524.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra features a 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 3120x1440 and an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a battery capacity of 5,000mAh, providing up to 31 hours of video playback.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra includes a main camera with a 200MP sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, a 50MP telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom, and a 10MP lens with 3x optical zoom.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra's display has a peak HDR brightness of 2,400 nits.
The Privacy Display feature allows users to hide screen contents from nearby viewers and can black out specific parts of the screen.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra accounted for 80% of pre-orders in the United States.
The Galaxy S26 series pre-orders increased by a "double-digit" percentage compared to the previous year.
The Galaxy S26 is priced at $899 for the 256GB model, while the Galaxy S26 Plus is priced at $1,099 for the same storage capacity.
The Galaxy S26 features a 4,300mAh battery, which is an increase of 300mAh from the S25.
The Galaxy S26 Plus has a 4,900mAh battery.
The S26 has a 15W wireless charging capability, while the S26 Plus has a 20W capability.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset is used in the S26 and S26 Plus in the United States, while the Exynos 2600 chipset is used in most other markets.
The camera specifications for the S26 include a 50-megapixel main camera, a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x zoom, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 12-megapixel selfie camera.
The Galaxy S26 series launched globally on March 11th, 2026.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra accounted for 70% of global pre-orders.
Pre-orders for the Galaxy S26 Ultra increased by 20% compared to the S25 Ultra from 2025.
The Galaxy S26 series pre-orders surpassed the S25 series pre-orders in Europe.
A poll indicated that almost 45% of Galaxy S23 Ultra owners are happy to stick with their current device.
Approximately 25% of respondents said their decision to upgrade would depend on Samsung’s trade-in deals.
Roughly two-thirds of voters in a separate poll indicated that upgrading from the Galaxy S23 series to the Galaxy S26 series is not worth it.
WHERE:
Global availability of the Galaxy S26 series
Europe, where the performance of the S26 series was specifically noted
WHEN:
Pre-orders for the Galaxy S26 series ended on March 11th, 2026.
The comparison of pre-orders for the S26 Ultra was made against the S25 Ultra from 2025.
WHY:
Samsung aims to enhance user privacy with the new Privacy Display feature, which works on a pixel level to obscure notifications and app content.
Samsung did not introduce magnetic Qi2 charging in the S26 series, preferring to keep the phones thinner.
The increase in pre-orders for the S26 Ultra is attributed to its features, including a brighter 10-bit display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and faster charging.
Many users are hesitant to upgrade due to the perceived incremental improvements between the Galaxy S23 and S26 series.
HOW:
The Galaxy S26 Ultra utilizes the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor, which improves on-device performance and battery life.
Samsung conducted a global launch and pre-order campaign for the Galaxy S26 series.
Polls were conducted by Android Authority to gauge consumer sentiment regarding upgrading from the Galaxy S23 series to the Galaxy S26 series.
(UPDATED March 12, 2026 07:15 UTC)
The Galaxy S26 series officially launched globally on March 11, 2026, ending pre-orders and making the devices available for purchase. The Galaxy S26 Ultra, which accounted for 70% of global pre-orders, boasts impressive performance with a multi-core score of 10,827 on Geekbench 6 and features a new Privacy Display to protect user content. However, Samsung has reduced trade-in values for the Galaxy S26 series, with the trade-in value for the Ultra dropping to “up to” $720, nearly $200 less than previous offers.
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(UPDATED March 11, 2026 19:17 UTC)
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which scored an impressive 10,827 on Geekbench 6, outperforming the iPhone 17 Pro Max by 10.7%. This new smartphone features a stunning 6.9-inch AMOLED display, a powerful 5,000mAh battery, and a versatile camera setup that includes a 200MP main sensor and multiple lenses for various photography needs. Additionally, the S26 Ultra introduces a Privacy Display feature designed to enhance user privacy by obscuring notifications and app content from nearby viewers.
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(UPDATED March 11, 2026 17:18 UTC)
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has made a significant splash, accounting for 80% of pre-orders in the United States, with overall pre-orders for the Galaxy S26 series seeing a double-digit percentage increase compared to last year. Priced at $899 for the 256GB model and $1,099 for the S26 Plus, these new devices feature impressive battery upgrades, with the S26 boasting a 4,300mAh battery and the Plus at 4,900mAh, while both models are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset in the U.S. Notably, Samsung opted not to include magnetic Qi2 charging in the S26 series to maintain a sleeker design.
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(UPDATED March 11, 2026 15:11 UTC)
Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy S26 series globally today, March 11, 2026, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra making a significant impact by accounting for 70% of global pre-orders, which have increased by 20% compared to last year's S25 Ultra. Despite this surge, a recent poll revealed that nearly two-thirds of Galaxy S23 Ultra owners feel that upgrading to the S26 series isn't worth it, with many citing only incremental improvements as a reason for their hesitation. The excitement around the S26 Ultra is largely attributed to its impressive features, including a brighter 10-bit display and the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip.