Applu traditionally falls in September, when it introduces new iPhones. In contrast, it introduces Samsung launches a new line of its flagship phones at the beginning of the year, usually in January or February. Now, as part of the event Galaxy Unpacked 2026 introduced a series Galaxy S26 and the headphone family Galaxy Buds4. And I already had the opportunity to meet them in person, here are my impressions and verdict, whether it should be Apple What to fear? If you are interested in the Android user's perspective, first impressions of Galaxy S26 Ultra you can read it at SamsungMagazine.eu.
Advice Galaxy The S26 will be talked about all year long because it is simply the best Android smartphone on the market. It will be compared not only to the top productions of Xiaomi, Google, but also of course Applu, whose iPhones are the biggest competition for the new models - whether it's last year's ones, the iPhones 17, or those that will arrive in the fall of this year, the iPhones 18.
The king of Android phones is coming: Galaxy S26 Ultra
It's clear from Samsung's entire behavior what they're trying to push. Everything is based on the model Galaxy S26 Ultra and then artificial intelligence, which he calls Galaxy AI. If we look at the largest and most equipped model, it is a truly unique piece of hardware, which has the appropriate support of tuned software in the form of its own superstructure. One UI 8.5. Even though it's Android, Samsung has tweaked it considerably and the result is really usable. Paradoxically, the user doesn't even Applu will not lose, many functions are copied here and many of them even look the same.
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Already Galaxy S25 Ultra slowly abandoned the sharper design of its predecessor, the Note series, and rounded its corners. Galaxy S26 Ultra this is done because its rounding is the same as the models Galaxy S26 and S26+. It's a more unified design, but it's more comfortable in the hand, and it won't make a hole in your pocket. On the front, it's just a simple plate with nothing much thought out, but on the back, Samsung redesigned the lens module, or rather created it anew, because in previous generations, only individual cameras stood out. But it didn't invent anything fundamental here, it just took what already works for it. Galaxy Z Fold7. This is also because it was getting thinner. Thickness Galaxy S26 Ultra is only 7,9 mm. As we know, iPhone 17 Pro Max is a stunner in this regard, with a thickness of 8,75 mm.
So if it is iPhone 17 Pro (Max) a hard worker at first sight, Galaxy S26 Ultra is a relatively elegant device that refers to that work with its capabilities, not its appearance. It still has the S Pen stylus right in the body, although like last year's generation without Bluetooth. There are still four lenses, the main one is 200 MPx, the periscopic telephoto lens then offers 5x optical zoom with the ability to take photos up to 10x with the usual crutch: in optical quality. But it also offers 3x 10MPx telephoto lens and the 50MPx ultrawide-angle. However, Samsung focused on the aperture in the new model, so the main one has f/1,9 and the periscope one has f/2,9. However, it is still too early to see results.
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Game-changing Privacy Display feature
Privacy Display promises a fundamental shift in privacy protection. Unlike commonly available adhesive glass and films, which limit viewing angles but also permanently degrade brightness and color rendering, Samsung is taking the path of direct integration into the hardware. The greatest strength is not just the "invisibility" of content from the side, but the ability to choose specific applications (e.g. banking, Gallery, messages) for which protection should be automatically activated.
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The function requires specific display technology, so it will not be available on older or cheaper models. varianty from the S26 series, but it only has it Ultra. And if you're wondering if it works, yes, it really does. I've tried it and I'm pretty excited about it at first. I'm not necessarily saying it's something I need and will use every day, but it's an interesting technology that's going to get a lot of talk. It does reduce a little bit of maximal brightness, but you'll probably regret it for the privacy you gain.
With this very practical feature, Samsung showed that it can still innovate and gave the model Ultra a clear argument to justify its premium price tag. It's a simple and elegant solution for anyone who doesn't want strangers on public transport or in a café looking over their shoulder at sensitive data.
Galaxy AI is more useful although also very limited
Apple Intelligence it's nice to see how it works, but it's a disaster when it comes to localization, and even worse if you live in the EU. Samsung isn't afraid of that and its Galaxy AI is pushing and pushing a lot. The package adds new features such as image editing using text prompts, and there is also Now Nudge, an assistant that suggests events for you based on what you do with your phone.oneWhat are you doing? ProThe problem is that he doesn't speak Czech and it's a question of how long it will take him. Galaxy AI has been around for two years, and even though there was a promise, voice functions are still not available in Czech, although text functions, of which there are most, are. Except Gemini a Bixby in the superstructure One UI Perplexity will also be added on 8.5.
Galaxy S26 and S26+ are pretty boring
Galaxy The S26+ has become a pretty useless piece of hardware in my eyes. While I used to appreciate it as a golden mean, this year I'm only considering buying it minifor rational reasons. The difference of five thousand crowns compared to Galaxy S26 Ultra is too small to justify the huge difference in equipment. For this extra cost, you get an incredible amount of extra technology with the Ultra. On the other hand, the basic Galaxy S26, which is seven thousand cheaper. Paying such an extra package just for a slightly larger display, battery, and faster charging lacks logic.
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The situation of the S26+ model is also complicated by the basic Galaxy S26. It grew to 6,3 inches and got a larger battery, which drastically reduced the difference in comfort between the two phones. Although both models are elegant and loaded with AI features (even older ones that just work), they feel just as static as previous generations. Moreover, Samsung deliberately keeps both phones short - they still lack the anti-reflective coating that the iPhones 17 have. And there's also a custom chip Exynos 2600, from which you can expect a lot. Just Ultra bet on a solution from Qualcomm.
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So there can only be one star and it is Galaxy S26 Ultra. Basic model Galaxy The S26 will find its buyers thanks to its status as the most affordable flagship, but Galaxy The S26+ remains in an uninteresting in-between space. It's the same story we previously criticized Applu with its basic iPhones and especially those with the same Plus moniker. There is minimum invention and reliance on brand inertia.
U Galaxy Buds4 koneSamsung has finally stopped copying
After the awkward third generation, which all too blatantly stole the design from Applu and his AirPods, Samsung with new Galaxy Buds4 to Buds4 Pro konereturned to its own identity. While the LED effects on the three-tone models seemed more like a cheap attempt at differentiation, the new model focuses on a distinctive elegance.ancand functional innovations – although they were also copied a lot.
Galaxy Buds4
New Blade design shows that the path of copying AirPods were a dead end. The new generation comes with a unique metal element that runs along the side of the stem. This makes the headphones look mature and original and elegant. In addition, the ergonomics benefit from the analysis of thousands of ear samples, which made it possible to enlarge the speaker by 20% without increasing the overall dimensions. The result is a noticeably fuller sound performance. Or at least it should be, how they actually play, we don't know yet.
The box with a transparent lid is mainly practical - you can immediately see whether the headphones are in place. However, the support for head gestures is certainly not revolutionary, as is the control on the earpiece stems, which Samsung simply takes from its model, i.e. Applu. In addition to classic white, there is also black and a special rose gold.
Galaxy Buds4 Pro
While Samsung has sometimes been slow to make a move with its phones this year, relying heavily on AI and the top-of-the-line model, it has shown real courage with its headphones. It has learned from the previous generation and come up with a design that isn't just "another key"onem in a row". The choice is whether you want the seeds (Buds4) or earplugs (Buds4 Pro).
It has Apple what to fear
On the one hand, I'm disappointed that Samsung has essentially "walled off" the Plus model and isn't giving the base model a more serious boost. It feels to me like it's focused too much on marketing terms around AI at the expense of honest hardware advancements in the more affordable models. variant. On the other hand, there is Galaxy S26 Ultrawhich is simply Ultra. The Privacy Display function honestly excited me and you can use it more than a thousand generative functions, which in Czech only work half as well. But is that enough? It will still depend on how it heats up during performance and how good the resulting photos will be. Samsung has not won and the only thing to fear is the Chinese competition rather than Apple. U Galaxy Buds4 to 4 Pro Only then will we find out how they will play, and their potential success will be decided accordingly.
U Mobil Pohotovostand pre-order the series Galaxy S26 from 600 CZK per month, with a discount of up to 18,800 CZK and especially with a free 3-year warranty. More information you can find here.
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 to Buds4 Pro you can pre-order at Mobil Pohotovosti, where you will receive one of the original headphone packaging as a gift for your review. More information you can find here.
