Samsung Unveils Galaxy S26 Ultra with Under‑Display Camera and AI, Cuts Headphone Prices

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra pushes the under‑display camera (UDC) concept from a novelty to a production‑ready feature, according to Mix Vale’s coverage of the device’s design. The 50‑megapixel sensor sits beneath the OLED panel, using a transparent pixel‑shifting layer that temporarily clears a small window of the display to capture light. Samsung says the new “Pixel‑Clear” technology improves light intake by roughly 15 percent compared with the S25 Ultra’s under‑display module, allowing the phone to retain the same 108‑megapixel main‑camera specs while eliminating the visible “pinhole” that has plagued earlier UDC attempts. The company also integrated a dedicated AI accelerator on the Exynos 2400 chipset, enabling on‑device inference for tasks such as real‑time background replacement, voice‑command processing, and adaptive battery management without routing data to the cloud.

The AI hardware is paired with a software stack Samsung calls “Autonomous AI,” which the firm describes as a suite of models that run locally to power features like “Smart Capture,” where the phone predicts the optimal framing and exposure before the shutter is pressed, and “Contextual Assist,” which surfaces relevant information (e.g., calendar events, translation suggestions) based on the user’s current activity. Mix Vale notes that the AI engine is built on a Tensor Processing Unit (TPU)‑style core that can deliver up to 5 TOPS (trillion operations per second) while consuming under 2 watts, a claim that aligns with Bloomberg’s report of a “lighter design and more AI” in the S26 Ultra. Samsung’s engineering team also added a privacy‑focused “Privacy Screen” that dims the display when the front‑camera is active, a hardware toggle that physically blocks the sensor’s view when not in use.

In parallel with the flagship phone, Samsung announced a steep price cut on its latest line of AI‑enabled headphones, which combine active‑noise cancellation (ANC) with on‑device speech‑enhancement algorithms and an IPX7 water‑resistance rating. Mix Vale reports that the retail price of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro has been reduced by roughly 30 percent, bringing the flagship model into the sub‑$100 bracket in most markets. The headphones’ AI features include “Adaptive Sound,” which dynamically adjusts the ANC level based on ambient noise, and “Voice Clarity,” a neural‑network‑driven filter that isolates the wearer’s voice for clearer calls. The price reduction appears aimed at bolstering the ecosystem around the S26 Ultra, encouraging users to adopt Samsung’s integrated AI hardware across both mobile and audio devices.

The announcements were part of Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event, which Wired covered in detail, highlighting the company’s broader strategy to unify hardware and software under a single AI umbrella. Wired notes that the S26 Ultra’s design is slimmer than its predecessor, thanks in part to the removal of a separate front‑camera module and the consolidation of AI processing onto the main chipset. Engadget’s preview of the event echoes this, pointing out that the under‑display camera’s “pixel‑clear” approach reduces the need for a dedicated lens housing, contributing to the phone’s reduced bezel and lower overall thickness. Both outlets emphasize that Samsung is betting on the convergence of AI and hardware efficiency to differentiate its premium lineup in a market increasingly dominated by incremental camera upgrades.

Analysts have not yet quantified the impact of these moves on Samsung’s market share, but the combination of a production‑grade under‑display camera, on‑device AI acceleration, and aggressively priced AI‑enabled accessories signals a concerted effort to lock users into a cohesive ecosystem. Bloomberg’s report underscores that the “Privacy Screen” and “lighter design” are intended to address consumer concerns about data security and device bulk, while the under‑display camera’s improved light‑gathering capability aims to close the performance gap with traditional notch‑based sensors. If Samsung can deliver on these technical promises, the S26 Ultra could set a new benchmark for integrated AI in flagship smartphones.