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Samsung's first Unpacked event of the year is in the rearview mirror, with the company launching new Galaxy S26 phones, the Galaxy Buds 4 series, and more earlier this week.
Also: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. S26 Plus vs. S26: I compared the key differences
ZDNET has been reporting from the ground in San Francisco -- and remotely, around the clock -- to get you the latest information on Samsung Unpacked 2026. Here are the latest updates, now that the dust has settled.
How to (re)watch Samsung Unpacked 2026
For those tuning in virtually, Samsung livestreamed the event on Samsung Newsroom, Samsung.com, or Samsung's YouTube channel, with on-demand replays available now. ZDNET's sibling site, CNET, also broadcasted the event, featuring live reactions and commentary from editors and analysts.
Every product announced at Samsung Unpacked 2026
The Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup was the headlining act, featuring larger displays with thinner bezels and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, with the Ultra model, in particular, introducing 60W charging and a specialized Privacy Display. Accompanying the phones are the Galaxy Buds 4 and 4 Pro, with support for ultra-wideband and gesture controls, alongside OneUI 8.5, which will offer refined notification and Bixby interactions.
Here's a rundown of ZDNET's Unpacked coverage, now that we've gone hands-on with all the products.
- Galaxy S26 Ultra hands-on: I need Privacy Display on my iPhone ASAP
- Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL
- Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max
- This Galaxy S26 privacy feature stole the show for me at Unpacked - how it works
- 5 phones you should buy instead of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
By Kerry Wan, Editor in Chief / Feb. 26 at 7:00 a.m. ET
Now that the dust has settled, are you preordering the Samsung Galaxy S26? If so, which model? No matter if you go big or small, there's likely a quality preorder deal available through your local carrier or retailer. This year, Samsung has partnered with Amazon and Best Buy to offer preorder deals, too, which bundle free gift cards and further discounts.
Also: How to preorder the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (and other models) - plus the best deals
If you're going tried-and-true and buying directly from a carrier, make sure to read the fine print to understand the qualifications for that "free" or "$1,000 off" phone. So long as you trade in a qualifying device, agree to the installment plan, and are a part of an eligible data service, you should be fine.
By Kerry Wan, Editor in Chief / Feb. 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET
While I couldn't travel to San Francisco for Unpacked this year, Samsung graciously delivered my review unit ahead of my flight out for Mobile World Congress tomorrow, so here it is -- box fresh.
No surprises: as you can see, it's minimal packaging with only a charging cable, user manuals, and a SIM ejector tool included.
My first impression of the S26 Ultra? It's still a chonky phone, but the rounded edges certainly help with hand comfort. I'll see how that holds up after a full day of usage.
By Kerry Wan, Editor in Chief / Feb. 25 at 2:10 p.m. ET
And that's all, folks. While we were waiting until the credits for a potential surprise announcement, it seems Samsung is reserving that for another day -- possibly as soon as Mobile World Congress next week. Until then, we've got some new phones and earbuds to check out, so stay tuned for more coverage.
By Nina Raemont, Wearables and Health Editor / Feb. 25 at 2:03 p.m. ET
There's a lot of talk about how many resources AI uses. During its keynote, Samsung took some time to outline its environmental commitment goals, like returning more water to the environment than it consumes, building wells across communities, supporting restoration projects, and working to restore coral reefs.
"Innovation can help conserve the planet," Cassie Smith, representing Samsung's corporate sustainability arm, said during the keynote.
By Nina Raemont, Wearables and Health Editor / Feb. 25 at 1:58 p.m. ET
I'm loving the design of the Galaxy Buds 4 Series -- both the clear case, which makes it easy to quickly check that both earbuds are accounted for, but also the touches of metal along the stem.
By Nina Raemont, Wearables and Health Editor / Feb. 25 at 1:56 p.m. ET
So, what differentiates the two new earbuds? The $249 Buds 4 Pro has a few more refined elements than the Buds 4. These include a better microphone, larger battery capacity, tighter seal (thanks to the eartips on the Buds 4 Pro), an IP rating of IP57 (higher than the Buds 4's IP54 rating), and refined adaptive ANC 2.0 (compared to the Buds 4's adaptive ANC 1.0).
The Buds 4 Pro include a woofer and a tweeter for more immersive sound, whereas the Buds 4 only include a speaker. Lastly, the Pro earbuds get one more colorway, a Pink Gold, available as an online exclusive.
By Nina Raemont, Wearables and Health Editor / Feb. 25 at 1:55 p.m. ET
As the AI wearables era continues, Samsung is packing its earbuds with hands-free AI integrations that make AI agent initiation simpler and quicker than before. Users can call on Bixby, Google Gemini, or Perplexity through the Galaxy Buds 4 without having to open up their phones -- or even have a Galaxy phone nearby.
For those not as keen on an AI-enabled earbud experience, Samsung says the AI is not automatically enabled on the Galaxy Buds 4.
By Nina Raemont, Wearables and Health Editor / Feb. 25 at 1:49 p.m. ET
The latest lineup of Samsung's earbuds emphasizes hi-fi sound and a comfortable fit. While designing the Buds 4 series, Samsung ran over 10,000 simulations analyzing ear shapes to achieve its blade design. This results in a smaller earbud that Samsung says is better, more secure, and more comfortable.
The Galaxy Buds 4 have enhanced ANC and EQ, head tracking, clear calling technology for noise reduction, and can read head gestures: a new feature that accepts or declines notifications based on whether the user shakes their head yes or nods no.
The earbuds will be widely available starting March 11, at $179 for the Buds 4 and $249 for the Buds 4 Pro.
By Nina Raemont, Wearables and Health Editor / Feb. 25 at 1:48 p.m. ET
Samsung's latest phone editing features could bring Nano Banana and other AI image-editing software users back to the Samsung Gallery app. Users can edit their photos right in the app using AI, restore missing elements, or remove blemishes from photos. S26 users can even generate their own custom wallpaper through the in-app AI.
By Kerry Wan, Editor in Chief / Feb. 25 at 1:47 p.m. ET
It's official: The Samsung Galaxy S26 series will retail for more than last year's models, with the S26 starting at $899, the S26 Plus starting at $1,099, and the S26 Ultra starting at $1,299. For what it's worth, Samsung is also increasing the base storage of the smaller S26 and S26 Plus models to 256GB (from 128GB), making the new price a little more justifiable.
