au Launches Samsung Galaxy S26 Series: The Most Intuitive Proactive AI Phone, Pre-orders Begin February 26

au Introduces Samsung Galaxy S26 Series: Pre-orders Start February 26, Sales Begin March 12

au Introduces Samsung Galaxy S26 Series: Pre-orders Start February 26, Sales Begin March 12

Samsung Electronics Japan has announced the release of the “Samsung Galaxy S26,” “Samsung Galaxy S26+,” and “Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra” through KDDI Corporation (au) and Okinawa Cellular Telephone Corporation. These devices, positioned as proactive AI phones, integrate advanced Galaxy AI with high-performance hardware and a top-tier camera system. Pre-orders are scheduled to begin on February 26, 2026 (Thursday), with sales starting on March 12, 2026 (Thursday), at au stores nationwide and the au Online Shop.

Simultaneously, a reservation campaign and a purchase campaign for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series are being conducted. For details on compatible accessories, please visit the au +1 collection: https://www.au.com/mobile/product/plus-one/android-accessory/#galaxy.

Key Features of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Series

The third generation of Samsung’s AI phones, the Galaxy S26 series, is designed to minimize operational effort for daily tasks such as schedule management, information search, and content creation/editing. It autonomously performs complex processes in the background, allowing users to focus on results and creativity without being conscious of the technology.

These devices integrate Samsung’s cutting-edge technology, offering unparalleled performance, a premium camera system, and intuitive Galaxy AI. This foundation ensures that advanced features are available throughout the day, with robust security and privacy measures.

Powerful Performance for Everyday Use

The Galaxy S26 series is equipped with the most powerful hardware in the history of the Samsung Galaxy S series, featuring a customized 2nd generation custom processor, Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. This optimizes AI processing, power efficiency, and thermal management, ensuring smooth operation even during demanding tasks.

The top-tier “Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra” boasts significant improvements in CPU, GPU, and NPU performance, delivering enhanced speed and fluidity throughout the day. CPU performance is improved by up to 19%, NPU by 39%, and GPU by 24% compared to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. The S26 Ultra also features a newly designed vapor chamber with a multi-channel structure for improved heat dissipation, maintaining stable performance during high-load activities. It supports Super Fast Charging 3.0, capable of charging up to 75% in approximately 30 minutes.

Samsung’s proprietary technologies, such as ProScaler and the mobile mDNle (Digital Natural Image engine), further enhance visual performance, providing sharper images, smoother textures, and more delicate and natural color expressions.

Below are the main specifications for the Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26+:

Below are the main specifications for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra:

Samsung Galaxy’s Best Camera System

The Galaxy S26 series is equipped with Samsung Galaxy’s most advanced camera system, focusing on intuitive operation for creativity and productivity. It integrates content capture, editing, and sharing into a seamless experience.

The “Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra” features a wider camera aperture, allowing more light into the sensor for clearer and more detailed photos in low-light conditions and zoomed shots. Enhanced Nightography Video provides vivid footage in dim environments. The improved Super Steady feature now includes Horizon Lock, ensuring stability and consistent framing during dynamic activities. The S26 Ultra is also the first Samsung Galaxy device to support APV, a professional video standard designed for high-quality video production with efficient data compression.

AI ISP enhancements extend to the selfie camera, reproducing natural skin tones and delicate details even in mixed lighting conditions.

Photo and video editing are more intuitive with AI-powered tools integrated into the workflow. Users can easily instruct the AI to perform edits such as changing a daytime scene to night, adding elements to an image, or naturally restoring missing parts of a subject. Galaxy AI can also modify clothing to remove stains. Creative Studio further simplifies the process, consolidating creation and customization into a single workspace for quick visual asset generation and seamless editing and sharing.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 series also simplifies document digitization with an AI-powered document scanning function. It automatically removes wrinkles and intrusive elements like fingers, generating clean scanned data instantly. Multiple images can also be automatically compiled into a single PDF.

The Most Intuitive Galaxy AI Experience

As the third-generation AI phone from Samsung, the Galaxy S26 series is designed to understand user intentions and shorten the steps to action, making daily operations more intuitive. It proactively supports users by understanding their usage patterns and intentions, providing necessary information at the right time, and automating tasks with minimal interaction.

Now Nudge offers optimal contextual suggestions, allowing users to maintain their workflow without distraction. For example, if a friend requests travel photos, the Galaxy S26 series automatically suggests relevant images from the gallery. Now Brief provides proactive support, evolving into a personalized feature that reminds users of important events, from reservations to travel updates.

Information searching is also easier with the enhanced “Circle to Search” feature, which can recognize multiple objects simultaneously within a single image. Bixby on the Galaxy S26 series allows for natural dialogue to adjust operations and settings, without requiring precise technical terms. It also supports multiple AI agents, including Gemini and Perplexity, enabling various tasks with a single button or voice command.

Multi-layered Privacy Protection in the AI Era

Recognizing the increasing importance of user privacy in the AI era, Samsung has integrated protection features at every level of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series. The “Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra” features the industry’s first built-in “Privacy Display,” which provides pixel-level privacy protection by controlling light diffusion to limit visibility from surrounding angles while maintaining a clear view for the user.

Users can customize when the privacy display activates, such as during PIN/password entry or specific app launches. The device also includes advanced software protection features like AI-powered call screening, which identifies unknown callers and summarizes their purpose. “Privacy Alerts” use machine learning to notify users in real-time when apps attempt to access sensitive information. The “Private Album” feature allows users to hide selected photos and videos directly within the gallery without creating separate folders or signing into a Samsung account.

The Galaxy S26 series incorporates post-quantum cryptography technology in critical system areas for enhanced device robustness. These features are supported by “Samsung Knox,” a multi-layered security platform that protects Samsung Galaxy devices from the chip level. Furthermore, the latest update to Knox Matrix strengthens protection across connected Samsung Galaxy devices, with enhanced device-to-device encryption during direct transfers like eSIM migration. The Samsung Galaxy S26 series will receive 7 years of security updates, ensuring long-term protection.

Seamless Integration with Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Series

The user experience extends beyond the smartphone with the new “Samsung Galaxy Buds4 series,” which offers rich, immersive Hi-Fi sound. When paired, users can continue intuitive operations even when their hands are full, activating AI agents (including Bixby, Google Gemini, and Perplexity) with voice commands, and for the “Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro,” managing calls with simple head gestures.

Below are the main specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Buds4:

Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Launch Commemorative Campaigns

Reservation Campaign

Customers who pre-order a “Samsung Galaxy S26,” “Samsung Galaxy S26+,” or “Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra” at au stores nationwide or the au Online Shop during the designated period and apply through the Samsung Wallet app will receive a Ponta gift code.

Reservation Period: February 26, 2026 (Thursday) ~ March 11, 2026 (Wednesday) 23:59
Purchase & Application Period: March 12, 2026 (Thursday) ~ March 31, 2026 (Tuesday) 23:59

Eligible Products & Benefits (excluding used and parallel import items):

“Samsung Galaxy S26”: 5,000 Ponta points
“Samsung Galaxy S26+”, “Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra”: 10,000 Ponta points

For the latest information and detailed terms and conditions, please visit the campaign page: https://www.samsung.com/jp/explore/event/galaxy-cp-2026-1h-au.

Purchase Campaign

Customers who purchase both a “Samsung Galaxy S26 series” smartphone and a “Samsung Galaxy Buds4 series” earphone at au stores nationwide or the au Online Shop during the designated period and apply through the Samsung Wallet app will receive a Ponta gift code.

Purchase & Application Period: March 12, 2026 (Thursday) ~ May 31, 2026 (Sunday) 23:59

Eligible Products & Benefits (excluding used and parallel import items):

Eligible Smartphones: “Samsung Galaxy S26,” “Samsung Galaxy S26+,” “Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra”
Eligible Earphones: “Samsung Galaxy Buds4,” “Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro”
Benefit: 4,000 Ponta points

For the latest information and detailed terms and conditions, please visit the campaign page: https://www.samsung.com/jp/explore/event/galaxy-cp-2026-1h-au.

au Device Replacement Discount and eSIM Transfer Support

An “au Device Replacement Discount Increase” campaign is ongoing, offering up to a 22,000 yen discount when replacing with a “Samsung Galaxy S26 series” device and subscribing to an eligible rate plan. This includes a 16,500 yen discount combined with the “5G Device Replacement Discount (up to 5,500 yen discount).” The campaign period starts from March 12, 2026 (Thursday) and has no set end date.

Furthermore, au’s “Samsung Galaxy S26 series” devices will support eSIM transfer between iOS and Android operating systems starting from the launch date of March 12, 2026. This is the first time for a Samsung Galaxy series device to support eSIM transfer between different OSs when changing devices.

New Services for Samsung Wallet

“Samsung Wallet,” Samsung’s digital wallet pre-installed on the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, allows users to quickly launch credit cards, QR/barcode payments, and point cards with a swipe up. New services will be added sequentially from April onwards, enhancing payment convenience.

Currently, a campaign offers 500 Ponta points for adding a Ponta card to Samsung Wallet. For details on eligible devices, visit: https://www.samsung.com/jp/support/apps-services/about-samsung-wallet.