Tag Archives: Technology & Electronics

NVIDIA updates Shield TV after pledging further support

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NVIDIA is a very busy company, and between all the graphics cards and AI-chasing, it wouldn’t be wholly surprising to see the company forget about its more niche offerings, such as the Android-powered NVIDIA Shield TV. Happily for all those who own one of these powerful set-top boxes, that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Not only is NVIDIA continuing to support its Shield devices, but it’s just rolled out its first proper update in nearly a year. The Shield Experience Upgrade 9.2.4, to give it its proper name, applies to both the Shield and Shield Pro boxes. It’s admittedly light on new features, instead being focused on updating security and fixing various issues, but is nice to see all the same. Here’s the full list of changes.

Enhancements:

  • Security patches are updated to Jan 2026.

Resolved Bugs:

  • Resolved Disney+ playback issue.

  • Resolved 3rd party remote connection issue with Xbox after sleep mode.

  • Resolved a crash issue which turns on SHIELD and CEC devices during sleep mode.

  • Resolved 3rd party Bluetooth remote frequent disconnect issue.

  • Resolved Settings page closes when triggering NVIDIA share on top of settings page.

NVIDIA hasn’t given any strong indication that it’s preparing to launch a new Shield TV, but in a a recent interview with ArsTechnica, Andrew Bell, the company’s senior VP of hardware engineering, said it has no plans to end support any time soon, teasing that it had "played with new concepts." Bell also said that a first Shield refresh since 2019 would likely support codecs like AV1 and HDR10+, as well as the latest Dolby Vision profiles.

The existing NVIDIA Shield Android TV Pro remains our pick of the best streaming devices for gamers, thanks to its ability to stream in native 4K and effectively upscale lower-resolution content. And with NVIDIA’s GeForce Now cloud gaming service going from strength to strength, the Shield retains a unique position in the PC gaming ecosystem.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nvidia-updates-shield-tv-after-pledging-further-support-141346264.html?src=rss

The best budget cameras for 2026

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Like other electronics products, cameras have shot up in price in the US of late due to tariffs and other reasons. Fortunately, there are still many models available for less than the price of a budget smartphone ($750 or less) that offer great features for creators and photographers alike. 

If it’s speed you want for sports or action shots of your kids, models like Canon’s R50 can shoot bursts as fast as many high-end cameras. Creators, meanwhile, can choose Sony’s ZV-E10 for vlogging jobs. There are also great, and cheap, models in the action and gimbal camera categories. 

Which one to pick therefore depends not only on your budget but what you want to do with your camera. So we’ll not only detail the best picks, but how to home in on the best model for your specific needs.

Which camera to buy obviously depends on what you shoot. If it’s mostly things like extreme sports, skiing or other adventurous activities, the best choice is obviously an action camera from GoPro, DJI or Insta360. Then, you just need to decide whether you want to shoot flat or 360 video, and whether you need a tiny or regular-sized model. The same goes for gimbal-style cameras from DJI and others. 

Buying a camera for travel photography, sports photos or vlogging is a bit trickier. Here, you need to choose either a compact camera with a fixed lens or a mirrorless model that supports removable lenses. 

Compact cameras tend to have smaller sensors and slightly lower quality lenses, but they’re obviously easier to carry — most will fit in a large pocket. So, if budget, convenience and portability is the most important to you, then go for a model in this category. 

When you’re trying to make the highest quality videos, though, you’ll want to choose a mirrorless camera with a decent lens. With the larger sensor, you’ll be able to create nice blurred bokeh backgrounds to separate your subject from the foreground. Lenses are usually sharper as well, and you’ll be able to expand your collection over time for even more versatility. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/best-budget-camera-130000653.html?src=rss

Xbox consoles now support 1440p streaming

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Microsoft has announced that its rolling out support for streaming games at 1440p on Xbox consoles. Game streaming is a key benefit of paying for a Game Pass subscription, and as of 2025, now also includes games players own that aren't part of the larger Game Pass library.

The higher bitrate streaming option will let subscribers with an Xbox Series X or S, Xbox One X or Xbox One play their games at a higher resolution, provided the game and their display supports it. Microsoft previously only offered 1440p streams on select Fire TVs, LG TVs, Samsung TVs, web browsers and the Xbox PC app. At least for now, 1440p is only available to Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.

Beyond the new streaming option, Microsoft is also making improvements to the Xbox PC app and the Xbox experience on ROG Xbox Ally handhelds. On PC, the Xbox PC app now includes "navigation sounds" that play when you use the app's interface with a controller. These new sounds are supposed to make controller input feel more responsive and intuitive. On the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, meanwhile, Microsoft is making it even easier to format removable storage like microSD cards, and updating drivers to improve compatibility on select games.

The last week has been particularly tumultuous for Microsoft's gaming division. Former Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer announced his retirement on Friday, alongside the appointment of Asha Sharma, the President of Microsoft's CoreAI division, as his replacement. Opinions differ as to whether Sharma's new position will be good or bad for Xbox, but more changes are likely on the way.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-consoles-now-support-1440p-streaming-204115304.html?src=rss

Tecno just unveiled a ridiculously thin modular smartphone concept design

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Tecno just unveiled a rather intriguing modular smartphone concept design at MWC 2026. The standout feature here is likely the size. Most modular smartphone concepts start bulky and only get bulkier once attaching accessories. Tecno's base smartphone is just 4.9mm thin, which is significantly thinner than a pencil and the iPhone Air.

Of course, the size increases with each attached module. However, snapping on the power bank module makes the thickness comparable to a standard modern smartphone. Another key feature here is how these various modular components stick together. Tecno has developed new interconnection technology that uses both magnets and pin connectors. This should make it easy to both attach and remove components.

The company says this phone has been designed to grow with the user through hardware expansion. To that end, Tecno has developed 10 modules. There are various camera lenses and something that looks like a dedicated gaming controller.

People holding phones.
Tecno

While the magnets are for attaching, the pin connectors assist with power delivery. Data transmission between the phone and the modules is handled wirelessly, with the ability to switch between Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mmWave depending on where the user is located.

There are two colorways for both the phone and the ecosystem of accessories. There's a silver-aluminum edition and a nifty-looking grey version. This doesn't matter to actual consumers because, well, it's just a concept design. It does look like the company's magnetic attachment technology could make it to some actual products down the line.

Tecno has always been a company that marched to the beat of its own drummer. It has developed a surprisingly affordable foldable phone, a model with a pop-out portrait lens and a foldable with a novel circular display on the exterior.

The industry hasn't quite embraced modular smartphones just yet, even though there have been some nifty concept designs. Google's Project Ara prototype goes back more than a decade, and the same can be said of other concept designs that never saw the light of day.

There have been some modular phones released to the real world, but they weren't nearly as ambitious as Tecno's concept. LG launched a semi-modular phone called the G5 back in 2016, but it didn't move too many units. Moto has also released a couple of semi-modular smartphones, but they didn't set the world on fire.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/tecno-just-unveiled-a-ridiculously-thin-modular-smartphone-concept-design-194741776.html?src=rss

HP says RAM now accounts for more than a third of its PC costs

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The cost of PC components has been skyrocketing as AI infrastructure buildout creates extraordinary demand amid limited supply. HP says that squeeze is now hitting PC memory especially hard, with RAM now accounting for 35 percent of a system’s overall cost.

"We did share last quarter that memory and storage costs made up roughly 15 percent to 18 percent of our PC bill of materials, and we now currently estimate this to be roughly 35 percent for the year," said CFO Karen Parkhill on the company's latest earnings call. She also confirmed that part of the company's response will be price increases. Samsung similarly warned of potential price increases due to AI-induced memory shortages.

Higher prices have unfortunately become the norm for PC shoppers, especially in 2026, and the RAM crisis is playing a major role. HP interim CEO Bruce Broussard said that while he "believe the market will rationalize over time" the company is doing its best to add new suppliers as well as expand lower cost-sourcing for memory.

HP executives also said they are seeing stronger AI PC demand, saying 35 percent of HP’s PC sales are coming from AI PCs. This comes as the industry is seeing mixed signals, like Dell saying that consumers don't really care about AI PCs.

AI has been eating up the world's supply of memory and companies like Micron have even abandoned their consumer brands to focus entirely on B2B supply. Other components like GPUs have also been feeling the pressure.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/hp-says-ram-now-accounts-for-more-than-a-third-of-its-pc-costs-192914150.html?src=rss

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Galaxy S25: What’s changed and which one should you buy?

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Following Samsung’s Unpacked event, the Samsung Galaxy S26 is available for pre-order, and it looks very familiar. That is not necessarily a bad thing. Like recent updates in the Galaxy S line, Samsung is refining its flagship rather than dramatically reinventing it.

Both phones share a lot of core DNA, including compact designs, high-refresh AMOLED displays and similar camera hardware. The S26 does introduce a handful of meaningful updates, however, including a slightly larger battery and newer software out of the box. Those changes also come with a higher starting price: the Galaxy S26 begins at $899.99 compared to the S25’s $799.99 launch price. The entry model now includes 256GB of storage instead of the S25’s base 128GB. Here's how the Galaxy S26 compares with last year’s Galaxy S25 on paper and whether the newer model is worth your attention.

Physically, the Galaxy S26 stays very close to the design Samsung established with the S25. You still get a compact handset with flat edges, an aluminum frame and IP68 water and dust resistance. The overall look and feel should be immediately familiar to anyone who used last year’s phone.

The display story is similarly steady. Both phones use Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz, and the S25 is rated for peak brightness of up to 2,600 nits. In everyday use, whether you are scrolling, gaming or watching video, the viewing experience should feel broadly similar between the two devices.

Under the hood, the Galaxy S25 is powered globally by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset paired with 12GB of RAM. The Galaxy S26 continues to target flagship-class performance. While Samsung has made internal refinements, overall speed should remain firmly in high-end territory for routine tasks, multitasking and mobile gaming.

On the software front, the S25 launched with Android 15 and One UI 7, while the Galaxy S26 ships with a newer version of Samsung’s software out of the box. As usual, the older model is expected to receive updates over time, which may narrow the long-term software gap.

Samsung has not dramatically reshuffled the base Galaxy camera hardware. The Galaxy S25 features a triple-camera setup built around a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide and a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, along with a 12MP front camera.

The Galaxy S26 largely sticks with the same proven approach, which suggests image quality should remain broadly consistent in good lighting. As is often the case with Samsung’s year-to-year updates, any meaningful gains are likely to come from image processing improvements rather than brand-new sensors.

For most people, that means the S26 should deliver the punchy, reliable photos Samsung flagships are known for, but Galaxy S25 owners should not expect a dramatic leap in camera hardware.

Battery capacity is one area where the Galaxy S26 makes a measurable change. The Galaxy S25 uses a 4,000mAh battery, while the Galaxy S26 increases that to 4,300mAh. That modest bump should translate into slightly longer endurance in day-to-day use, though real-world gains will depend on efficiency improvements and individual usage patterns.

Charging speeds remain largely unchanged. The Galaxy S25 supports up to 25W wired charging, up to 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, and the Galaxy S26 stays in the same general range.

This year, Samsung is putting more emphasis on Galaxy AI, even on the base Galaxy S26. While many of the headline features are aimed at the Ultra and Plus models, the standard S26 still picks up several practical upgrades.

One of the more useful additions is Document Scan, which uses AI to clean up scans by automatically removing distortions, fingers and creases. It can also bundle multiple images into a single PDF, making it easier to digitize receipts, notes or forms without extra editing.

Samsung is also expanding its proactive assistant features. Now Brief becomes more personalized on the S26, surfacing reminders and updates based on your activity throughout the day, while the new Now Nudge system can suggest relevant content at the right moment. For example, if someone asks for photos from a recent trip, the phone can proactively surface matching images from your gallery instead of making you search manually.

Search is getting smarter as well. Circle to Search with Google now supports enhanced multi-object recognition, allowing you to identify several items in an image at once. Samsung is also upgrading Bixby into a more conversational assistant, and the S26 supports third-party agents such as Gemini and Perplexity for handling more complex, multi-step tasks through voice commands.

Security and privacy features are expanding in the background too. The Galaxy S26 introduces AI-powered Call Screening to summarize unknown callers, along with new Privacy Alerts that warn when apps request sensitive permissions. Samsung is also extending its post-quantum cryptography protections deeper into the system, backed by the company’s Knox security platform and seven years of promised security updates.

If you already own a Galaxy S25, the Galaxy S26 looks like a fairly iterative update. The core experience, including performance, display quality and camera hardware, remains very similar.

The main tangible upgrade is the slightly larger battery, along with newer software out of the box. For most S25 owners, that alone probably is not a compelling reason to upgrade. However, if you are coming from an older Galaxy phone or buying fresh, the Galaxy S26 is the more future-proof pick simply because it starts one generation ahead in Samsung’s update cycle and packs the larger battery.

As usual with Samsung’s yearly refreshes, the real decision may come down to pricing and discounts. If the Galaxy S25 sees significant price cuts, it could remain the better value. But at similar prices, the Galaxy S26 is the safer long-term buy.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy S26

Samsung Galaxy S25

Price (MSRP)

$899.99

$799.99 (128GB), $859.99 (256GB)

Dimensions

5.88 x 2.82 x 0.28 inches

5.78 x 2.78 x 0.28 inches

Weight

5.9 ounces

5.7 ounces

Screen size

6.3 inches (FHD+)

6.2 inches (FHD+)

Screen resolution

2,340 x 1,080

2,340 x 1,080

Screen type

Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz adaptive refresh (1–120Hz), Up to 2,600 nits peak brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 3

Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz adaptive refresh (1–120Hz), Up to 2,600 nits peak brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2

SoC

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy

Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy

RAM

12GB

12GB

Battery

4,300mAh

4,000mAh

Charging

Up to 25W (wired), 15W (wireless)

Up to 25W (wired), 15W (wireless)

Storage

256GB, 512GB

128GB, 256GB

Rear camera

50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto

50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto

Front camera

12MP

12MP

Video capture

Up to 4K 60fps, 8K 30fps

Up to 4K 60fps, 8K 30fps

Water and dust resistance rating

IP68

IP68

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 7

Wi-Fi 7

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 6.0

Bluetooth 5.4

OS

Android 16 with One UI 8.5

Android 15 with One UI 7

Colors and finish

Cobalt Violet, White, Black, Sky Blue, Pink Gold*, Silver Shadow* (*Samsung.com exclusive)

Navy, Icyblue, Mint, Silver Shadow, Blueblack*, Coralred*, Pinkgold* (*Samsung.com exclusive)

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s26-vs-galaxy-s25-whats-changed-and-which-one-should-you-buy-181515367.html?src=rss

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. S26+ vs. S26 Ultra: Comparing the three new phones

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Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra, and the company is once again leaning heavily on AI, camera upgrades and refined hardware to move the lineup forward. While the overall design remains familiar, there are some meaningful differences between the three models, particularly when it comes to display tech, charging speeds and camera hardware.

Across the board, the S26 family is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip and runs Android 16 with One UI 8.5. Samsung is also doubling down on Galaxy AI features like Now Brief, Now Nudge and upgraded Circle to Search, positioning the new phones as more proactive assistants than before.

As usual, though, the Ultra model is where Samsung is pushing the envelope the furthest. It gains the most advanced camera system, faster wired and wireless charging and the company’s new built-in Privacy Display tech. Pre-orders are available now, with official sales starting on March 11. If you’re trying to decide which model makes the most sense for your needs (and budget), here’s how the three devices stack up on paper.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy S26

Samsung Galaxy S26+

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Price (MSRP)

$899.99

$1,099.99

$1,299.99

Dimensions

71.7 x 149.6 x 7.2 mm

71.7 x 149.6 x 7.2 mm

78.1 x 163.6 x 7.9 mm

Weight

167g

190g

214g

Screen size

6.3 inches (FHD+)

6.7 inches (QHD+)

6.9 inches (QHD+)

Screen resolution

2340 x 1080

3120 x 1440

3120 x 1440

Screen type

Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz adaptive refresh (1–120Hz), Up to 2,600 nits peak brightness

Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz adaptive refresh (1–120Hz), Up to 2,600 nits peak brightness

Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz adaptive refresh (1–120Hz), Up to 2,600 nits peak brightness

SoC

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy

RAM

12GB

12GB

12GB or 16GB

Battery

4,300 mAh

4,300 mAh

5,000 mAh

Charging

25W (wired), 15W (wireless)

45W (wired), 20W (wireless)

60W (wired), 25W (wireless)

Storage

256/512GB

256/512GB

256/512GB, 1TB

Rear camera

50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto

50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto

200MP main, 50MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto, 50MP 5x periscope telephoto

Front camera

12MP

12MP

12MP

Video capture

Up to 4K 60fps, 8K 30fps

Up to 4K 60fps, 8K 30fps

Up to 4K 120fps, 8K 30fps

Water and dust resistance rating

IP68

IP68

IP68

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 7

Wi-Fi 7

Wi-Fi 7

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 6.0

Bluetooth 6.0

Bluetooth 6.0

OS

Android 16 with One UI 8.5

Android 16 with One UI 8.5

Android 16 with One UI 8.5

Colors and finish

Cobalt Violet, White, Black, and Sky Blue / Pink Gold and Silver Shadow (Samsung exclusive)

Cobalt Violet, White, Black, and Sky Blue / Pink Gold and Silver Shadow (Samsung exclusive)

Cobalt Violet, White, Black, and Sky Blue / Pink Gold and Silver Shadow (Samsung exclusive)

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s26-vs-s26-vs-s26-ultra-comparing-the-three-new-phones-181047172.html?src=rss

How to pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S26 phones and Galaxy Buds 4

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During its Unpacked event today, Samsung announced three new Galaxy S-series phones as well as the latest generation of its earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. Pre-orders are now open and the new devices are set to ship March 11. As expected, this year’s models aren’t drastically different from last year’s, but all the phones are equipped to better handle the Galaxy AI experiences such as Now Nudge that offers suggestions based on your activities and a more conversational assitant in Bixby (or Gemini or Perplexity depending on your preferance).

Engadget’s own Sam Rutherford is on-site in San Francisco for the new hardware launch and will have hands-on impressions. We’ll follow that up with official reviews in the next week. But if you can’t wait for our final verdict, here’s how to pre-order Samsung’s Galaxy S26 phones and the Galaxy Buds 4 today.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/how-to-pre-order-the-samsung-galaxy-s26-phones-and-galaxy-buds-4-180500976.html?src=rss

Google announces new Android AI features coming to the Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10 series

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Google unveiled a new batch of Android updates, including more Gemini-powered tools and improved scam detection features at Samsung’s Galaxy S26 launch on Wednesday.

A new feature in the Gemini app will let users hand off multi-step tasks, like ordering a rideshare or building a grocery cart. The feature, which will first arrive in beta, runs in the background while users perform other tasks. Gemini's progress can be monitored live via notifications, so users can see what it's doing and jump in at any time.

Gemini task automation
Google

Google says this feature will initially be limited to certain food, grocery or rideshare apps. It will be available first on select devices, including the Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10, in the US and Korea.

Android is also getting an upgrade for Circle to Search, enabling it to search for multiple objects seen on screen at once. One implementation of this is full-outfit searches using "find the look." Once the app has found all the individual pieces of the circled outfit, users can try them on virtually. This will be available on Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10 devices. The beefed-up feature can also be used to gain insights into multiple objects in an image.

Android circle to search
Google

The company is also using Gemini to bring on-device Scam Detection for calls to Samsung’s Phone app. The tool alerts users if someone on their call is using speech patterns commonly heard from scammers. Google says the feature is never used while on a call with someone in your contacts and is off by default.

Gemini-powered spam detection
Google

The same technology and approach will also be used to detect scams in Google Messages. For now, scam detection on phone calls is only available on the Galaxy S26 in English in the US, while detection in messages is supported across various markets.

All of these new features are available now on the Pixel 10 and Galaxy S26 lineups, with availability in select markets varying by feature.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-announces-new-android-ai-features-coming-to-the-galaxy-s26-and-pixel-10-series-180039674.html?src=rss

Samsung Galaxy S26 hands-on: A lot more of the same for a little more money

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As we prepare to leave the winter months, Samsung announced another family of Galaxy S flagships for those looking to upgrade. As usual, the company put its best components and features into the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but it also added more to the base S26 and S26+. The company has hit its groove with its smaller (and cheaper) flagships, delivering solid devices with increasingly better cameras, occasionally even offering feature parity with its most expensive smartphone.

In 2026, that’s what we’re getting, with the 6.3-inch S26 ($899) and 6.7-inch S26+ ($1,099). Both phones are more expensive than last year, and it’s often a game of spot-the-difference when it comes to showing what’s new.

Fortunately, the best parts have been retained, too. Samsung has unified the design style across the entire S26 series, with the same corner ratios, curved edges and other design touches. While I tested both phones, I’ll focus on the S26. Barring screen differences and battery size, they’re identically specced.

This year’s S26 color selection has a premium Samsung ‘mood’ to it that I can’t quite explain. Does purple mean Samsung to my brain? Maybe. Cobalt Violet is the particular shade I’m talking about, but there are also blue, black and white colors. Additional silver and pink-gold options will be available as online exclusives. There’s not much else to say about the design: it’s another Galaxy S flagship, and if it ain’t broke…

Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26+ hands-on
Mat Smith for Engadget

Samsung has increased the battery capacity to 4,300 mAh on the S26, while somehow maintaining the same thickness as last year’s S25. However, the S26+ has the same 4,900mAH battery as its predecessor. All S26 devices will launch with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM, with bigger storage options available. With the S26, Samsung has slightly increased the screen size to 6.3 inches, up from last year's 6.2-inch S25.

The S26 comes with a familiar camera trio: a 50-megapixel main sensor, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP telephoto with up to 3x optical zoom. On paper, that’s identical to last year’s base S25. However, Samsung has improved performance with its ProScaler technology for upscaling images and an MDNIe chip, which the company says provides four times the color precision compared to previous devices.

There are software improvements too, with video features being the most tangible upgrade, among more AI-assisted photo editing tools. Super Steady video has been upgraded to a 360-degree horizontal lock. This camera mode uses the S26’s gyroscopes to maintain a consistent horizon even as you rush to chase a pet or family member while recording, or to capture snowboarding buddies. (There’s always a snowboarding example when a company mentions horizontal lock.) It’s nice to see a feature we’re used to finding on gimbals and action cams built into an unashamedly mainstream phone like the S26.

Auto Framing is another new feature coming to both 4K and 8K video capture. It uses AI to lock onto subjects and automatically tighten framing to what you want to capture. Even during brief testing, I was intrigued and liked the dramatic punch-in effect as I recorded nearby people. It creates a faux-panning effect as it tracks moving subjects, something you might have experienced with Center Stage on Apple devices.

Samsung has also upgraded image processing on its front-facing cameras with a new Object Aware Engine for improved portrait mode shots, hair textures and more accurate skin tones. Based on my early testing, images seemed sharper than on my older Samsung devices, even though this is (again) largely the same 12MP camera as last year.

With processors, it's getting a little more complicated. In the US, Samsung's entire S26 series will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, but in Europe, both the S26 and S26+ will be powered by the company’s own Exynos 2600, apparently the world’s first 2nm chipset. Comparing it to Snapdragon’s top mobile processor, however, will have to wait until review time.

With more power for AI functions, Samsung has continued to evolve and expand its AI software, although it seems less of a priority this year. Only one AI feature stood out during my briefing: Audio Eraser. While this launched on the S25, it only worked on audio and video you captured yourself. Now, Samsung expanded it to most major video platforms, including Netflix, Instagram and YouTube, adding the ability to strip out noise and distractions and amplify the volume of voices. It was especially effective with a rowdy replay of an Arsenal football soccer match, and sounded like I was listening to a dedicated commentary channel. Interestingly, unlike many sound editing apps and features, it will work on downloaded videos on those platforms without an internet connection.

Elsewhere, Now Nudge will attempt to suggest actions based on what’s happening onscreen, such as sharing contact numbers with someone or suggesting calendar times while dealing with work emails. Samsung’s Now Brief can pull information and notifications from a wider array of apps and sources to deliver in its daily briefings. However, again, that’s hard to assess at this early stage.

There are several more quality–of-life software updates, too, like the ability to sift through all those screenshots after they’ve been automatically categorized into sections like barcodes, events and more. If you can’t get enough AI image generation, you can now use Photo Assist to edit your photos using descriptive prompts. Elsewhere, Circle-to-Search now supports multiple, well, circles, if you’re looking to tag and search for multiple objects at once.

Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26+ hands-on
Mat Smith for Engadget

It’s not the most exciting year for Samsung’s smaller flagship phones. While the S26 Ultra can boast a new Privacy Display that’s the first of its kind, the rest of the S26 family have a little too much in common with their predecessors. The new video features seem useful and intuitive, so there’s more to explore there. We’ll have more to say in our full reviews soon.

Both the Galaxy S26 and S26+ launch on March 11th and are available to preorder now.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s26-hands-on-launch-date-price-180005654.html?src=rss