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Amazon just announced a change to its Wish List policies: On March 25, the retailer will remove the option to restrict purchases from third-party sellers for list items. Gift purchasers will be able to buy items sold by third parties on people's lists, and their addresses will be shared with the seller for fulfillment.

Creators like Zach Bussey shared a screenshot of the Amazon email on X.

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"When gifts are purchased from your shared or public lists, Amazon needs to provide your shipping address to sellers and delivery partners to fulfill these orders," the email notes. "During the delivery process, your address may become visible to gift purchasers through delivery updates and tracking information."

That isn't new. If a customer has a public list and connects an address to their list in the settings, gift purchasers may receive the customer's address through the seller and delivery partners fulfilling these orders as they share delivery updates and tracking information. The change is that customers will no longer have the option to restrict purchases from third-party sellers on their Lists as of March 25.

SEE ALSO: Amazon shuts down Blue Jay warehouse robot project after less than a year How to take precautions

• Amazon recommends using a P.O. Box or non-residential addresses for lists shared with the public.

• You can also adjust your list privacy to Private or Shared (the latter option specifies who can see the lists) to limit who has access.

• You can also remove your shipping address by tapping the "Shipping Address" field and selecting "None." Ostensibly, the gift buyer would then need to directly contact the Wish List owner to obtain shipping information.

Creators of all kinds, from Twitch streamers to sex workers, use Amazon Wish Lists to receive gifts from their fans. At least one "PSA" is recommending creators "don't get doxxed" and move their lists to Throne, a wishlist platform. On Throne's home page, it says that, "All the creator and fan information stays private and is not shared between parties."

When Anthropic launched years ago, the company wanted an industry-wide "race to the top" in artificial intelligence, instead of a race to the bottom in pursuit of customers and market dominance that would inadvertently lead to catastrophic safety risks.

So Anthropic adopted safety principles and policies that it hoped it competitors would also implement. In some instances, companies, including Google and OpenAI, did, according to Anthropic. Still, Anthropic's hopes didn't "pan out" as the company hoped, according to a blog post it published Tuesday.

The post announced that Anthropic, the maker of the AI chatbot Claude, is altering key safety practices to meet what it views as present-day challenges.

SEE ALSO: Claude apps: How Anthropic will integrate Slack, Canva, and more

Specifically, Anthropic will no longer automatically pause model development if it could be considered dangerous; instead, it will consider its competitors' actions and whether they release models with similar capabilities. Previously, Anthropic committed to safeguards that would reduce its models' absolute risk, regardless of whether other AI developers did the same.

"The policy environment has shifted toward prioritizing AI competitiveness and economic growth, while safety-oriented discussions have yet to gain meaningful traction at the federal level," the company wrote. "We remain convinced that effective government engagement on AI safety is both necessary and achievable, and we aim to continue advancing a conversation grounded in evidence, national security interests, economic competitiveness, and public trust. But this is proving to be a long-term project—not something that is happening organically as AI becomes more capable or crosses certain thresholds."

Though Anthropic said it aims to continue leading on safety, its latest decision reflects the breakneck speed at which competitors are releasing new models.

Anthropic has also been under intense pressure this week by the U.S. Defense Department, which is pressing the company to allow the military to use its AI tools for any purpose, including mass surveillance or the deployment of autonomous weapons without human oversight.

Anthropic has yet to relent on those points in contract negotiations with the Defense Department, reportedly stirring the ire of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who threatened to sever the company's relationship with the military, Axios reports.

Anthropic has participated in an AI pilot program for military-related imagery analysis, along with Google, OpenAI, and xAI, according to the New York Times. Though Claude has been the only chatbot working on the government's classified systems, a Pentagon official said Anthropic could be replaced by another firm.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Total profit for the fiscal year was $120 billion, the company said. Three years ago, it was just $4.4 billion.

TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for only $12.97 (reg. $199) while this deal lasts.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $12.97
$199 Save $186.03   Get Deal

Ready for a faster, more seamless computing experience? Microsoft’s latest operating system delivers exactly that — and Windows 11 Pro is available for just $12.97 (reg. $199) for a limited time. That’s a lifetime license for less than the price of a movie ticket.

Windows 11 Pro comes loaded with a sleek, streamlined interface, improved multitasking tools like Snap Layouts, and enhanced security features, including TPM 2.0, BitLocker, and Smart App Control. It’s built for professionals, creatives, and everyday users alike. Gamers will also appreciate support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, delivering ultra-realistic graphics.

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But the real game-changer is Copilot. This built-in AI assistant helps you work faster by summarizing web pages, generating text or images, opening apps, adjusting settings, or even suggesting code — all without leaving your workflow.

What you’ll get out of this deal:

• Lifetime license for just $12.97

• Windows 10 is being phased out

• Built-in AI assistant Copilot for smarter daily productivity

• Advanced security and pro-level tools

• Seamless design optimized for multitasking and collaboration

• Supports Microsoft Teams, Widgets, and touch-enabled devices

Don’t wait too long to get a lifetime Windows 11 Pro license for $12.97 (reg. $199).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

While some porn performers are out there making six figures a year — or month — many don't. In 2024, it was revealed that the average OnlyFans creator pocketed just $1,300 a year. But that sum was a calculation based on OnlyFans' numbers. What do actual 18+ creators say they earn?

The average creator earns about $58,700 a year from adult work, or about $5,000 per month, according to a survey from adult industry research firm SWR Data.

SEE ALSO: How I make six figures on OnlyFans without taking my clothes off

SWR Data conducted the State of the Creator survey in fall 2025, which included over 550 adult creators. It found that just 35 percent of creators said they were entirely dependent on their adult work for their survival, while 51 percent said they earn income outside the adult industry.

Newer creators earn around $16,000 annually on average, while that number shoots up to $74,000 for those who've been in the industry for five years or more. And for creators who've both been in the industry for 5+ years and only work in adult, the average income is more than $111,000, according to SWR Data.

"While many factors influence who earns how much...one factor correlates with higher incomes more than anything else: the amount of time spent in the industry," SWR Data wrote in a Substack post.

More research is to be done about the earnings of adult stars — but SWR Data's Substack stressed that the top one percent certainly doesn't speak for everyone.

The infamous dating platform Ashley Madison just announced a massive global rebrand, and the sheer audacity of its new PR spin is worth talking about.

Ashley Madison is officially dropping the “affairs” label and repositioning itself as a privacy-first destination for "discreet dating.” But if you’ve kept up with the company’s track record, you have a right to feel a little skeptical.

SEE ALSO: OnlyFans 'baits and switches' customers with false promises, lawsuit claims Ashley Madison has a history involving a major data breach and fake profiles.

In 2015, a catastrophic data breach exposed the information of millions of users and outed high-profile members, including Josh Duggar from 19 Kids and Counting (yikes). The incident was also linked to at least two suicides at the time.

To help smooth things over, its parent company, Avid Life Media, changed its name to ruby Corp. in 2016, and the site decided to (temporarily) drop its tagline: "Life is Short. Have an Affair." And just a week before its new TV commercials hit the market, the company was hit with a probe and lawsuits by the Federal Trade Commission over fake profiles posing as real women. (Ashley Madison settled months later.)

The new rebrand pivots away from infidelity and leans into 'ethical discretion.'

Fast forward to today. Ashley Madison has yet another new tagline: "Where Desire Meets Discretion."

According to the brand's PR team, the site is now focusing on "ethical discretion" for singles, separated individuals, and the ethical non-monogamous community. Paul Keable, the Chief Strategy Officer, tells us that this shift was influenced by last year's sign-ups: Apparently, 57 percent of new members identified as single.

“Our pivot to discretion is recognizing and enabling daters to take control of their profiles and helping to create better connections,” Keable told Mashable in an email. “We will now market Ashley Madison as a dating platform for ethical discretion; whether they are single, separated, divorced, or non-monogamous.”

Dr. Tammy Nelson, a sex and relationship therapist partnering with the brand, agrees that dating app fatigue and oversharing have driven users toward platforms that prioritize anonymity and data protection. “Discretion and privacy have become the goal of dating,” says Dr. Nelson. “In a recent Ashley Madison member survey, 61 percent of respondents said the reason they chose Ashley Madison in the pursuit of connections was that they wanted a high level of discretion.”

The platform uses impressive, albeit shady, tech to keep users hidden.

To their credit, Ashley Madison’s feature list is pretty impressive if you’re trying to stay off the grid (but, again, it was originally built to help you cheat):

• Selective identity: Users are encouraged to use a pseudonym, and you can blur or mask your photos. The site asks you to sign up with a nickname rather than your legal name. There’s also no social media linking allowed. According to Keable, the app strictly prohibits social media handles or phone numbers in profiles to prevent cross-platform identification.

• Private keys: Members can create a hidden photo album and grant (or revoke) access via a "Private Key" at any time.

• Stealth Mode (iOS only): Apple users can customize the app’s icon and notification appearance on their phones (shady, if you ask me).

• Screenshot blockers: The platform has built-in screenshot blockers, so other members can’t take screenshots of anything in the app. If they attempt to do so, they’ll just get a black screen capture. Although it doesn’t send an alarm or anything to the person whose image was captured, Keable says that users who are reported for sharing screenshots externally could face a permanent ban.

“The most significant differentiator is our community itself,” says Keable. “Mainstream apps are built on ‘social discovery,’ using your contacts and ‘friends of friends’ to help you find people you know,” he adds. “Ashley Madison operates on the opposite principle.”

Ironically, the actual cheaters on Reddit aren't happy.

Users over on the r/adultery subreddit have already noticed the shift in real-time. The platform has quietly dropped explicit labels like "Attached seeking Attached" and replaced them with standard "Men seeking women" and a generalized "non-monogamy" tag.

Ashley Madison is trying really, really hard to convince us that the site’s fundamental purpose has evolved beyond facilitating infidelity. I was fully prepared to call BS on this entire pivot, but ironically enough, the actual cheaters aren't thrilled about the rebrand. Over on Reddit, users are actively complaining that the influx of single people is ruining the site's original purpose, making it harder to find other married people looking to stray. One user wrote, "This has really ruined the site for me. I'm only interested in connecting with women who are having an affair... I wish I could get a refund on my credits."

So, you can call it "ethical discretion," or you can call it a PR stunt. But if the adulterers are fleeing because the site is too full of single people looking for privacy? Well, maybe the rebrand is actually working.

A new generation of Samsung Galaxy is here. The Samsung Galaxy S26 made its debut during Samsung Unpacked on Wednesday, Feb. 25, and preorders start today ahead of its March 11 release.

While there are very few differences between the new S26 Samsung Galaxy phones and previous generations, there are some noteworthy changes.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra: Comparing price, specs, and features

Now, Samsung has combined its AI photo and video studio into the Creative Studio. What's creating the bigger buzz is the inclusion of a new Privacy Display. The new feature means that you can only view the screen head-on, meaning passersby can't catch a glimpse of your texts or any other very important business you're up to.

Physically, the Samsung Galaxy S26 will look similar to the S25 line-up, but it will have a more prominent camera bump. For those upgrading, this means one certainty — you'll need a new phone case.

Luckily, new cases are already available for the Samsung Galaxy S26. They're available to shop now, so by the time your new Samsung Galaxy S26 arrives, your case will be there too.

Samsung

Of course, Samsung is one of the first to outfit its new phones. Along with the Samsung Galaxy S26 preorder drop is a collection of new phone cases. Samsung launched a clear magnetic case, an ultra slim case, a silicone magnetic case, and a rugged case, all available to fit S26 phones, including the S26+ and S26 Ultra. According to Samsung's website, these cases will ship before the phones and arrive by March 6.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases   Shop Now ESR

ESR has already launched its Samsung Galaxy S26 cases, with a new clear case. There's a model available for every size of the S26, including the S26+ and S26 Ultra. The thin, clear case features military-grade drop protection and magnetic charging compatibility. Around the camera is a built-in phone stand so you can watch horizontal video anywhere.

Opens in a new window Credit: ESR ESR Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $35.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Burga

A case is more than just crucial protections; it's also a way to show personality. Burga makes cases with chic and trendy prints, including polka dots, stripes, ombre, and motivational messages. Before Samsung Unpacked even launched, Burga had Samsung Galaxy S26 cases available, which you can start shopping for now. Plus, they're running a deal, and when you buy four cases, you only pay for two.

Opens in a new window Credit: Burga Burga Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases Buy four phone cases at Burga and pay for just two. Get Deal Careborne

An extremely thin phone case doesn't mean a flimsy phone case. CaseBorne's Thinborne cases are made from Aerospace-grade aramid fiber, which is extremely thin and durable. It's meant to show off your phone rather than distract it with a flashy design. Caseborne's Galaxy S26 case is already live and will arrive by Monday, March 2, a full nine days before the S26 is released.

Opens in a new window Credit: CaseBorne CaseBorn Thinborn Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $69.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Spidercase

For a slim but extremely functional case, look to the Spidercase, which comes in transparent designs so you can actually see your phone. It's a thin case that's shockproof without being bulky. Plus, it comes with a built-in stand and MagSafe compatibility. The Spidercase is available to shop on Amazon and will ship out on Monday, March 2.

Opens in a new window Credit: Spidercase Spidercase Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $17.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Snakehive

Looking for a leather case? Snakehive is joining the crowd of new Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases. The brand's leather case has a slim profile and comes in four different shades: rich tan, jet black, hunter green, and oxford blue. Despite the leather material, it's still MagSafe-friendly for all your wireless charging needs.

Opens in a new window Credit: Snakehive Snakehive Samsung Galaxy S26 Phone Case $39.99
  Shop Now Pitaka

Pitaka joins the crowd of aramid fiber phone cases. The woven design makes it extremely durable without being too thick. Pitaka's case for the Samsung Galaxy S26 is already live, available in two colors: black and moonrise. It has a raised camera edge to protect the lens and is MagSafe-friendly.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pitaka Pitaka Moonrise Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $59.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Exoticase

A protective but minimalist phone case for the new Samsung Galaxy S26 phone comes from Exoticase. The design of the case is simple with a matte, transparent backing paired with an accent color like soothing green or flashy red. The case has protection in mind with raised edges around the camera and screen edges to protect against drops and falls.

Opens in a new window Credit: Exoticase Exoticase Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $24.95 at Exoticase
  Get Deal

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked was full of announcements about the company's new line of Galaxy S26 smartphones. And, of course, Samsung had plenty to highlight in terms of its Galaxy AI features too.

One of the major new AI-related features this year from Samsung involves the Galaxy S26's photo app. All photo tools, including AI editing, will all live in a new Creative Studio so users can capture, edit, enhance, and generate multimedia content without the need to use multiple applications.

The ability to snap a real photo and then add a realistic, yet fake, AI-generated aspect to that picture could cause some problems. So, as Samsung announced at Galaxy Unpacked, photos with AI elements will be tagged as such within the app.

The AI label from Samsung appears in the bottom corner of the photo and designates the image as "AI-generated content."

This will be good news to many, as AI imagery and deepfakes have been used by bad actors to spread misinformation and harass individuals.

However, it's currently unclear if there's anything more than the visible watermark on the photo. If it's just that visible label, it appears that users can still easily crop the photo ever so slightly to remove the watermark. In fact, there are tutorials online that show users how they can utilize Galaxy AI itself to remove the AI watermark in previous iterations of Samsung's AI tools for Galaxy phones.

Other AI tools like OpenAI's Sora and Google's Veo 3 also display watermarks that indicate content is AI-generated. However, as those are video tools, they are able to make the watermark more difficult to remove. Ideally, AI-generated images and videos contain an invisible digital watermark, like Google's SynthID.

Samsung is using Google's AI model Gemini and its powerful Nano Banana AI-image generation model for Galaxy AI's generative content. However, it's not clear if AI photos made with Samsung will also contain a SynthID for AI detection.

Still, auto-tagging is one step practical step to limit the potential harm of deepfakes.

Samsung showed off its new Privacy Display feature during its marquee Unpacked event on Wednesday, where it announced its new lineup of Galaxy S26 phones.

Mashable's Amanda Yeo covered the Privacy Display news as it dropped, calling it "the coolest innovation by far" at the tech giant's big event. The general idea is that the Galaxy S26 Ultra can change screen visibility to ensure your privacy. The actual pixels within the display shift to keep nosy eyes off your screen.

But there's more to Privacy Display than just some shifting pixels. Here are four things it can do.

Hide specific apps

Say — smartly, I'd add — that you don't want folks snooping around as you use a mobile banking app. You can choose to set that app, or any other app, to always use Privacy Display, so you can check your account in public, in peace.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Hide unexpected notifications

You might not want randos to see your notifications. And hey, that's none of their business! You can toggle Privacy Display so that notifications are obscured as the pop-ups appear on screen. Samsung's presentation noted this could be especially useful when, say, ferrying a friend to their surprise birthday party.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Activate with just one button

Say you suddenly want some privacy. Maybe you're sending gossipy texts, and the subject of the gossip enters the room. Hey, that's your prerogative. Obviously, it's a little sketchy and a bit of a hassle to navigate settings to turn on Privacy Display. Thankfully, you can simply toggle on the feature by pressing the power button twice.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Go Maximum mode

Sometimes you want to be really private. For those moments, Samsung created Maximum mode in Privacy Display. In short, it hides everything but the head-on view. Wrote Mashable's Yeo about her hands-on test: "The display really impressed when the stronger Maximum privacy protection mode was turned on, which immediately made the S26 Ultra's screen appear almost as if the phone had been shut down."

There's plenty for privacy lovers to test out with Privacy Display — and the Galaxy S26 Ultra is available for pre-order for those interested.

Samsung just wrapped Galaxy Unpacked 2026, and if there was one word the company wanted you to remember, it was "agentic."

With the unveiling of the new S26 line of phones, Samsung wants to make clear that its smartphones will do the work for you. There were several neat breakout features for the S26 lineup that stood out during the AI-focused showcase.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases: Where to get fun ones right now

Between agentic AI integrations, gamer-grade performance, and a genuinely novel Privacy Display, Samsung clearly wants the Galaxy S26 Ultra in particular to feel like more than just an iterative upgrade.

So, from the Galaxy S26 lineup to new Galaxy Buds4 earbuds, here’s everything Samsung unveiled at its Feb. 25 event.

Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra: Samsung’s 'most intuitive' AI phone yet Credit: Mashable / Joseph Maldonado

At the center of Unpacked was the new Galaxy S26 series — the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra — which Samsung calls its "most intuitive, proactive, and adaptive Galaxy AI" experience yet.

All three phones run Android 16 with One UI 8.5 and are powered (in North America, China, and Japan) by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip. On the Ultra, Samsung says users can expect up to a 19% CPU boost, 39% NPU boost, and 24% GPU improvement compared to the previous generation — performance gains clearly designed to keep up with always-on AI.

Preorders open Feb. 25, with general availability starting March 11. Pricing starts at:

• $899.99 for Galaxy S26

• $1,099.99 for Galaxy S26+

• $1,299.99 for Galaxy S26 Ultra

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 preorder: How to get the S26, S26 Ultra, S26+ Agentic AI takes center stage

Samsung’s pitch this year is an AI phone that takes action for you.

The Galaxy S26 series integrates multiple AI agents, including Bixby, Google Gemini, and Perplexity. Once configured, tasks can be completed with a button press or voice prompt, and multi-step actions can run in the background. Samsung demostrated several "practical" uses of agentic AI on the S26 like having it order a pizza for you on GrubHub or Galaxy AI surfacing trip photos automatically when a friend asks for them (via the Now Nudge feature). Samsung also expanded Circle to Search with multi-object recognition, allowing users to identify multiple items in an image at once

Samsung frames these agentic AI features as a way to stop unnecessary app-hopping so users can focus on what's more important (usually something like spending more time with the family instead of fussing around with the delivery app).

Galaxy S26 Ultra debuts first-of-its-kind Privacy Display

While AI dominated the keynote, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may be remembered for something else entirely: privacy.

Samsung says the S26 Ultra introduces the mobile industry’s first built-in Privacy Display: a hardware-level feature that narrows viewing angles to make it harder for bystanders to see your screen. In Mashable’s hands-on, Amanda Yeo described it as "the coolest innovation by far," noting how activating Privacy Display significantly darkens the screen from side angles.

A "Maximum privacy protection" mode makes the display appear almost off to anyone not looking straight at it. Unlike traditional privacy screen protectors, Samsung’s solution is integrated into the panel itself. When off, full viewing quality is restored; when on, users can customize privacy levels and even limit protection to specific apps or PIN entry screens.

Samsung describes it as privacy "at the pixel level," and in a year obsessed with AI data security, that framing feels deliberate.

Galaxy S26 Ultra: Built for performance (and gamers)

Samsung is also positioning the Ultra as a performance powerhouse.

The S26 Ultra features:

• A 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and up to 2600 nits peak brightness

• A redesigned vapor chamber for improved thermal management during gaming and multitasking

• A 5,000mAh battery

It also supports Super Fast Charging 3.0, reaching up to 75% charge in around 30 minutes. On the camera front, the Ultra sports:

• 200MP wide camera

• 50MP ultra-wide

• 10MP 3x telephoto

• 50MP 5x telephoto

• 100x digital zoom

• 8K video at 30fps

Samsung also introduced APV, a new professional-grade video codec for high-quality workflows.

Galaxy S26 and S26+: Slimmer, lighter, still AI-first

The standard Galaxy S26 and S26+ share much of the Ultra’s AI foundation, but with more compact builds. Both support 120Hz adaptive refresh rates and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. The camera systems are led by a 50MP wide lens, with 3x optical zoom and up to 30x digital zoom

• Galaxy S26: 6.3-inch FHD+ display, 4,300mAh battery

• Galaxy S26+: 6.7-inch QHD+ display, 4,900mAh battery

Galaxy AI tools: Editing, scanning, and call screening

Samsung expanded its AI editing toolkit across the lineup.

The upgraded Photo Assist suite allows users to describe edits in natural language — including changing time of day, restoring missing elements, or even altering outfits in photos. Creative Studio consolidates generation and customization tools into one workspace for stickers, wallpapers, and invitations.

Document Scan automatically removes distortions (such as creases or fingerprints) and can bundle multiple images into a single PDF. On the security front, there's AI-powered Call Screening that summarizes unknown callers’ intent along with Privacy Alerts that notify users if apps with device admin privileges attempt sensitive access.

Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro: Hi-fi sound meets AI Credit: Mashable / Joseph Maldonado

The new Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro launch alongside the S26 series, with general availability starting March 11. The Buds4 series supports hands-free activation of AI agents, including Bixby, Gemini, and Perplexity, reinforcing Samsung’s "agentic" ecosystem story.

Buds4 Pro highlights:

• Wider woofer with ~19.8% larger effective speaker area

• 24-bit/96kHz hi-fi audio support

• Enhanced ANC and Adaptive EQ

• Head Gesture controls for calls and Bixby interaction

SEE ALSO: How to preorder the new Samsung Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro wireless earbuds

Design-wise, Samsung introduced a new “blade” aesthetic, developed using ear-shape simulation data.

Get a free $20 gift card: As of Feb. 25, My Best Buy Plus or Total members who preorder the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 or Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro earbuds can receive a $20 or $30 Best Buy gift card free with their purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro My Best Buy Plus and Total members get a $20 or $30 Best Buy gift card with purchase Get Deal

The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 line is finally here, following their announcement at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026.

While the Buds4 and Buds4 Pro earbuds won't be available in select markets until March 11, interested buyers can place their preorders at Amazon, Samsung.com, and Best Buy starting Feb. 25. If you're a My Best Buy Plus or Total member, grabbing your buds from the lattermost retailer is probably the move — preorders of the Buds4 come with a free $20 Best Buy gift card, while Buds4 Pro preorders come with a $30 Best Buy gift card.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra hands-on: Privacy Display is the coolest innovation by far

My Best Buy Plus memberships usually run $49.99 per year, while Total memberships cost $179.99 annually. With that in mind, non-members may not find it worthwhile to spring for a membership for a gift card less than half of the cost of said membership.

However, Best Buy is currently running a limited-time sale price on its Plus memberships, slashing the price in half to $24.99. While still more than the $20 gift card for the Buds4 earbuds, it does net you a free $5 on the Buds4 Pro earbuds. Membership also grants you access to free two-day shipping, other exclusive offers on items, early access to sales, and an extended 60-day return window on most of Best Buy's catalog.

Plus, this deal beats Amazon's gift card bundle for the Buds4 line, which bumps the price on both earbuds for the exact value of the bundled Amazon gift card (meaning you could purchase both separately, and still pay the same amount).

A quick look at the best Samsung Galaxy S25 deals Best new Galaxy S25 phone deal Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge (512GB, Titanium Jet Black) $899.99 (save $320 at Best Buy) Get Deal Best refurbished Galaxy S25 phone deal Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB, Titanium Black) $796.82 (save $502.18 at Back Market) Get Deal

As expected, the Samsung Unpacked event on Feb. 25 confirmed the release of the Samsung Galaxy S26 family: The regular S26, the S26 Plus, and the S26 Ultra. Some big Samsung fans are pumped because they can officially preorder the Galaxy S26 — other Samsung fans are pumped because the existence of the Galaxy S26 probably means deals on the Galaxy S25.

SEE ALSO: Samsung announces Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro at Galaxy Unpacked: Everything to know

Galaxy S25 deals aren't going super hard yet, especially considering many S25 configurations are sold out at multiple retailers (even Samsung itself). But there are a few worthwhile unlocked Samsung phone deals and refurbished phone deals are floating around. We'll be on the lookout for deals on the Galaxy S25, S25 Ultra, S25 Edge, S25+, and S25 FE for the rest of the week, with promos from phone carriers and Samsung itself likely in the coming days. In the meantime, keep up with our live coverage of everything announced at Samsung Unpacked.

New Galaxy S25 dealsUnlocked

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge (512GB, Titanium Jet Black) — $899.99 $1,219.99 (save $320)

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge (512GB, Titanium Icy Blue) — $899.99 $1,219.99 (save $320)

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge (512GB, Titanium Silver) — $899.99 $1,219.99 (save $320)

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB, Titanium Jet Black) — $949.98 $1,299.99 (save $350.01)

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB, Titanium Blue) — $979.99 $1,299.99 (save $320)

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB, Titanium Whitesilver) — $1,073.40 $1,419.99 (save $346.59)

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB, Titanium Blue) — $1,087 $1,419.99 (save $332.99)

Refurbished Galaxy S25 dealsUnlocked

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB, Titanium Black) — $796.82 $1,2999 (save $502.18)

Verizon

• Samsung Geek Squad Certified Refurbished Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB, Titanium Black, Verizon) — $1,169.99 $1,299.99 (save $130)

• Samsung Geek Squad Certified Refurbished Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB, Titanium Black, Verizon) — $1,277.99 $1,419.99 (save $142)

AT&T

• Samsung Geek Squad Certified Refurbished Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB, Titanium Whitesilver. AT&T) — $1,169.99 $1,299.99 (save $130)

Should you get a Galaxy S25 over the Galaxy S26?

In some ways, it even feels wrong to use a term like "settling" when opting for last year's Galaxy S25 over the S26.

If it's comforting at all, there aren't any major discrepancies in our initial direct comparison between the two — the biggest differences mostly involve the S26's expanded AI editing tools and Samsung's new Privacy Display. In terms of the two flagships, the Galaxy S25 and S26 Ultra lines have the same AMOLED display with a 1-120Hz refresh rate, and the S26 Ultra's cameras all have the same resolutions as the S25 Ultra's.

If your biggest pet peeve is a phone that loses charge over time, the S25 might actually be a safer choice. Battery health could be a main disadvantage of the S26, with reports alleging that the S26 will only be able to hit 80 percent at full charge after 1,200 charging cycles.

If your phone is being blow up by the Xbox app right now, you're not alone.

Around 12:30 p.m. ET, users began receiving a flurry of pop-up app alerts that all read:

This is a dummy test message sent via braze. please capture a screenshot once you receive it. This should take you to the recently added gallery.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked live blog: See the latest updates

App users, of course, flocked to reddit to discuss the wave of seemingly endless notifications. In one post that has since been removed by moderators, users suspected the issue was internal. "Someone pushed Test to Prod. The entire app is broken," one user wrote. Others, noting the message referred to the dev tool Braze, explained it was probably a fluke test message intended to be sent only to internal teams. "It doesn’t mean anything, It doesn’t mean your account was hacked, compromised, or targeted, it’s most likely just a backend testing error that slipped through," said one Reddit user.

"Took me to the 'uninstalling this app ASAP headspace' is what it did," wrote another disgruntled user.

Credit: Mashable / Screenshot What is Braze?

Braze is a customer engagement and audience platform. It offers tools and quality assurance services that allow companies to test and send messaging campaigns — what many users assume led to the Xbox app spam.

What is going on at Xbox?

Last week, Xbox fans were surprised to hear that Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer was retiring from his role at the company. Xbox president Sarah Bond also announced she was resigning, writing in a follow up statement that she would stay on as special advisor to incoming Xbox head Asha Sharma. Bond said the move was both a personal and professional decision.

Mashable reached out to Xbox for comment and will continue to update this story.

Best mini PC deals to run OpenClaw at a glance Best Apple deal Apple Mac mini (M4, 16GB, 156GB SSD) $569 (save $30) Get Deal Best Kamuri deal Kamuri Pinova P2 Mini PC (16GB, 512GB SSD) $299.99 (save $20) Get Deal Best Beelink deal Beelink Mini PC (24GB, 500GB SSD) $439 (save $30) Get Deal

OpenClaw is the latest AI attempting to make our lives (maybe?) easier. The open-source AI assistant runs locally on your device that operates on your behalf, scanning your email inbox, messages, calendar, Slack notifications, and more. On top of this, OpenClaw can alert you of especially important items that come across your virtual desk. Use OpenClaw with ChatGPT and you could be scheduling flights, replying to messages, and plenty more.

So long as you're cool with using AI and the inherent security risks that come with OpenClaw, you might want a mini PC dedicated to running the lobster AI assistant. For a time, the OpenClaw hype was so real that Silicone Valley buyers were depleting the supply of the Mac Mini. That initial bump has settled down (for now) and we have the Mac Mini in stock and on sale today, plus a few other mini PCs that could be ideal for OpenClaw.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Mac Mini (M4, 16GB, 256GB SSD) $569 at Amazon
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If you're in the Apple ecosphere, the Mac mini with M4 chip could be awesome for running OpenClaw. The version with 16GB of memory and 256GB SSD usually sells for $599, but it's on sale today at Amazon for $569.

The Mac Mini has two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, ethernet connection, HDMI, and three Thunderbolt 4 ports. Like the name suggests, Apple went small with this mini PC and it weighs under two pounds and measures five inches in width and length, and just two inches in height. It'll be easy to travel with the Mac mini or find a spot for it on your desktop.

Best Kamuri deal Opens in a new window Credit: Kamuri Kamuri Pinova P2 Mini PC (16GB, 512GB SSD) $299.99 at Amazon
$319.99 Save $20   Get Deal Why we like it

Coming in at a smidge smaller than the Mac Mini, the Kamuri Pinova 2 Mini PC is another great option for OpenClaw. Today's sale price of $299.99 applies to the model with 16GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB SSD, which is expandable to up to 4TB.

Since the Kamuri Pinova 2 Mini PC will be powered on 24/7 to run OpenClaw, it'll be nice to have the under 38 decibel fan noise. Plus, Kamuri includes a VESA mount and screws so you can easily keep your desktop clear and affix the mini PC to the back of a monitor.

Best Beehive deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beelink Beelink Mini PC (24GB, 500GB SSD) $439 at Amazon
$469 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

With support for WiFI 6, the Beelink Mini PC is more than capable of operating OpenClaw. Plus, Beelink gets major bragging rights for being incredibly lightweight. The Beelink weighs just 400 grams which works out to 0.88 pounds, or about half the weight of the Apple Mac Mini.

Today's sale price of $439 earns you 24GB RAM and 500GB SSD, running AMD Ryzen 7. Beelink incorporated two fans on this model — one for the system itself and an additional SSD fan.

Just how much does one phone change in a year, anyway?

That's what we're here to find out. Samsung just launched its Galaxy S26 Ultra flagship handset at a Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco, which means it's time to see how it compares to the Galaxy S25 Ultra from a year ago. Both phones are powerful Android devices, but one would hope that an extra year has given Samsung some time to refine and improve the S26 Ultra.

We've only gotten a little hands-on time with the newest flagship, and we'll have a full review coming soon. In the meantime, here's how the two phones compare in terms of price, specs, and feature set.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. S25 Ultra: Price The new Galaxy S26 Ultra. Credit: Chris Taylor / Mashable

This one's easy. The S25 Ultra launched at $1,299.99 last year, and so did the S26 Ultra this year. Samsung didn't increase the price year-over-year, which will make this comparison easier. (The S26 and S26 plus did get a price increase, however.)

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked live blog: See the latest updates Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. S25 Ultra: Specs and display

Here are the basic specs of the Galaxy S25 Ultra:

• 6.9-inch AMOLED display with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and 3120x1440 resolution

• Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor

• 256GB/512GB/1TB storage options

• 12GB RAM

• 5,000mAh battery

And here are the same specs for Galaxy S26 Ultra for simple comparison's sake:

• 6.9-inch AMOLED display with adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate and 3120x1440 resolution

• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor

• 256/512GB/1TB storage options

• 12/16GB RAM

• 5,000mAh battery

As you can see, Samsung didn't rock the boat with this annual upgrade. Both phones seemingly have almost the exact same display specs, as well as the same battery sizes. That said, Samsung did make some changes for 2026. The processor is newer and theoretically more powerful, and the 1TB storage model also comes with an increase to 16GB RAM. That means performance should be better on the new phone, though it remains to be seen just by how much.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. S25 Ultra: Top new features

As for what's new with the S26 Ultra, the biggest answer would probably be Privacy Display. This is a new, built-in feature at the device level that will dim the screen to anyone looking at it from an off angle, hopefully giving users some peace of mind as they look at...whatever they're looking at in public. We don't yet know how well this works due to a lack of direct testing, but the S25 Ultra didn't have this, and the S26 Ultra does.

Beyond that, the S26 Ultra brings 60-watt fast charging to the mix. If you have a compatible charger and are tired of waiting around for your phone to fill up, this is great news.

The new Privacy Display feature in action. Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra hands-on: Privacy Display is the coolest innovation by far Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. S25 Ultra: Cameras

Both the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and its predecessor feature four rear cameras: 200MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, 10MP with 3x optical zoom. Both devices also have a front-facing 12MP selfie camera.

However, according to Samsung, the new Galaxy S26 Ultra features wider camera apertures, allowing more light to enter and resulting in clearer and more detailed photos. The company also says the Galaxy S26 Ultra has upgraded Super Steady capabilities for smoother 4K video and Enhanced Nightography Video to enhance output in lowlight settings.

Overall, you can expect a better camera system with the S26 Ultra, which is no surprise.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. S25 Ultra: More AI features Like the S25 Ultra, the S26 Ultra will generate a daily briefing. Credit: Chris Taylor / Mashable Credit: Chris Taylor / Mashable

Samsung has made some upgrades to the overall AI feature set with the S26 Ultra. Unsurprisingly, the S26 is being called an "agentic" phone with a unified artificial intelligence experience across all your devices, and Galaxy Unpacked focused heavily on AI. As one example, the S26 Ultra will offer AI call screening, answering calls and taking notes when you're too busy to answer. Users can also choose between Samsung's Bixby, Google Gemini, and Perplexity.

In addition, the S26 Ultra has a new suite of AI image and video editing tools, dubbed Creative Studio. A new AI image editor is also built directly into the camera app. Users can describe the edits they want, and the AI will take care of the rest.

Where to preorder the new Samsung Galaxy Buds4: Samsung.com Samsung Galaxy Buds4 $179.99 Pre-Order Here Samsung.com Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro $249.99 (exclusive Pink Gold color available) Pre-Order Here Amazon Samsung Galaxy Buds4 $179.99 Pre-Order Here Amazon Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro $249.99 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Samsung Galaxy Buds4 $179.99 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro $249.99 Pre-Order Here

Samsung has updated its flagship earbuds for 2026, announcing the new Galaxy Buds4 and Galaxy Buds4 Pro during its Galaxy Unpacked event on Wednesday. Preorders are now open at Samsung.com ahead of their March 11 launch alongside new Galaxy S26 smartphones.

The Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro retail for $179.99 and $249.99, respectively, the same price as their predecessors from mid-2024. Both variants come in matte black and white finishes, but Samsung's website carries the upgraded Galaxy Buds4 Pros in a third pink gold colorway. You can also preorder the earbuds from Amazon and Best Buy.

The Galaxy Buds4 Pro come in black, white, and a Samsung.com-exclusive pink gold finish. Credit: Chris Taylor / Mashable

In a press release, Samsung said it redesigned the Buds4 series with smaller, more ergonomic earbud heads for a comfier fit. The vanilla Galaxy Buds4 still have an open-ear design like Apple's AirPods, while the Buds4 Pros have a canal-fit shape like the AirPods Pro. But the stems on both buds now have a metal finish and an engraved pinch control area that makes it easier to feel when you go to adjust settings.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 series announced, including S26 Plus and Ultra

Features-wise, the Galaxy Buds4 series has improved noise cancellation and an enhanced Adaptive Equalizer tool that adjusts the ANC based on the user's ear shape. They also add hands-free support for new AI assistant integrations, including Bixby, Google Gemini, and Perplexity.

The Galaxy Buds4 series offer up to 30 total hours of music playback with their charging cases. Credit: Chris Taylor / Mashable

The Galaxy Buds4 Pro tack on a wider woofer for improved sound quality and new AirPods-y head gesture controls. They also last slightly longer than the Buds4, offering up to six hours of music playback per charge with the ANC off and seven hours with it on. (That increases to 26 hours and 30 hours, respectively, with their charging case.) The standard Galaxy Buds4 can play music for up to five hours with the ANC on and six with it off, for a total listening time of 24 hours and 30 hours, respectively, when the case is involved.

The Galaxy Buds4s are IP54 rated for dust and splash resistance. The Buds4 Pros' IP57 rating takes that slightly further: They can withstand temporary submersion.

For more on this new generation of earbuds, we broke down the upgrades between the Buds4 and Buds3 line.

Head to Mashable's Samsung Galaxy Unpacked live blog for the latest updates as the newest Samsung products and features are unveiled.

Where to preorder the new Samsung Galaxy S26 series smartphones: Samsung.com Samsung Galaxy S26 (256GB) $899.99 Pre-Order Here Samsung.com Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus (256GB) $1,099.99 Pre-Order Here Samsung.com Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB) $1,299.99 Pre-Order Here

After months of extensive leaks and teasers, Samsung officially unveiled its latest AI-forward smartphones at Galaxy Unpacked Wednesday. The new Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra are set for release on March 11 alongside some new Galaxy Buds4, and preorders are now live on Samsung.com. Starting prices range from $899.99 to $1,299.99, and buyers can save up to $900 with a trade-in.

Amazon, Best Buy, and major phone carriers will open their Galaxy S26 preorders shortly. (Their deals are often better than Samsung's — think free gift card offers or entirely free phones with a new line and data plan.) This story will be updated as soon as their listings appear.

The new Samsung Galaxy S26 smartphones and Galaxy Buds4 earbuds both launch on March 11. Credit: Chris Taylor / Mashable

The Galaxy S26 series runs on a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 4 for Galaxy chipset, and all models now start with at least 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Their design is slimmer and less boxy than their predecessors, last year's Galaxy S25 series, and they're made from aluminum instead of titanium. They all offer integration for Google Gemini and Perplexity alongside an upgraded Bixby assistant.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 series announced, including S26 Plus and Ultra

The Galaxy S26 Ultra got the most noteworthy updates, including a redesigned vapor chamber for better heat dissipation, faster charging, Corning Gorilla Armor 2, and an industry-first Privacy Display feature. (No need for a physical screen protector.)

All retailers will sell the Galaxy S26 series in four colors: cobalt violet, sky blue, black, and white. Samsung will carry two additional finishes called silver shadow and pink gold.

Samsung Galaxy S26: Specs and pricing Samsung's entry-level phone is no longer available with 128GB of storage. Credit: Chris Taylor / Mashable

The standard Galaxy S26 is configurable with 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage, and it starts at $899.99. That's not a price bump from the previous generation, by the way: The Galaxy S25 base model was $799.99, but it only had a 128GB storage capacity.

Here's what that gets you:

• Display: 6.3-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ (2340 × 1080) resolution and 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate

• Camera setup: 50MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide lens, and 10MP telephoto lens

• Battery capacity: 4,300mAh

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus: Specs and pricing The Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus is the only model that got a true price hike from the previous generation. Credit: Chris Taylor / Mashable

The mid-tier Galaxy S26 Plus has the same memory and storage options as well as the same camera setup. It starts at $1,099.99, which is a $100 increase from the Galaxy S25 Plus. Compared to the vanilla Galaxy S26, it has a bigger, nicer display and a larger battery:

• Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED display with with a QHD+ (3120 x 1440) resolution and a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate

• Battery capacity: 4,900mAh

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Specs and pricing The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will compete with Apple's iPhone 17 Pro. Credit: Chris Taylor / Mashable

The high-end Galaxy S26 Ultra comes in three configuration options: 12GB RAM/256GB storage, 16GB RAM/512GB storage, or 16GB RAM/1TB storage. It has the same $1,299.99 starting price as the 2025 Galaxy S25 Ultra despite its upgrades. (Read our deeper dive into their differences.)

Compared to the other Galaxy S26 phones, the Ultra has the biggest display, added stylus support, the biggest, fastest-charging battery, and an extra telephoto lens:

• Display: 6.9-inch AMOLED display with with a QHD+ (3120 x 1440) resolution and a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate

• Camera setup: 200MP main camera, 50MP ultra-wide lens, and 50 and 10MP telephoto lenses with up to 5x optical zoom

• Battery capacity: 5,000mAh with 60w charging

Head to Mashable's Samsung Galaxy Unpacked live blog for the latest updates as the newest Samsung products and features are unveiled.

It's time for another round of Google vs. Samsung.

Google launched the Pixel 10 phone last summer, while Samsung's newest flagship, the Galaxy S26, is making its grand debut in the new year. These two Android heavyweights have plenty in common, but also enough points of divergence to make it a real decision for anyone looking to upgrade their non-iOS handset.

Here is how the Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10 compare, with the caveat that we've only had a little hands-on time with the S26 so far.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Google Pixel 10: Price Last year's Pixel 10 phones. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Our first category is the easiest to figure out. The Galaxy S26 is launching at $899.99, while the Pixel 10's MSRP is $799. However, while that might make it seem like the Pixel 10 has the edge, it's not so simple. For the S26, Samsung eliminated the 128GB option, and the starting version now has 256GB of storage. The equivalent Pixel model is priced at $899, only a $0.99 difference.

We typically recommend people get at least 256GB of storage anyway. However, if you're OK with 128GB and want the cheapest possible price, then the Pixel 10 does technically offer the lower price.

SEE ALSO: Does the S26 have a price increase over the S25? Yes and no. Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Google Pixel 10: Specs

Here are the basic specs for the Pixel 10:

• 6.3-inch display with 1080x2424 resolution and 60-120Hz adaptive refresh rate

• 12GB RAM

• 128GB/256GB storage

• Google Tensor G5 chip

• 4,970mAh battery

And here are the equivalent specs in the Galaxy S26:

• 6.3-inch display with 1080x2340 resolution and 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate

• 12GM RAM

• 256/512GB storage

• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy

• 4,300mAh battery

There are some notable differences here, but let's start with the similarities. Both devices have the same display size and resolutions that are close enough to be more or less indistinguishable to the average person's eyes. Samsung has a slight edge in terms of refresh rate, but only on the lower end; the ability to go all the way down to 1Hz might help with battery life, but in terms of how things actually look, that's not going to be a huge difference for most folks. Both devices also have the same amount of RAM. We'll have to wait and see how the Tensor G5 compares to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip inside Samsung's devices, but generally speaking, Google's in-house Tensor chips aren't powerhouses on benchmark tests, even if daily performance is usually not a problem for them.

As previously noted, there are some differences worth exploring. Samsung's slightly higher price tag might be explained by the larger storage options on the S26. Its max capacity is twice that of the Pixel 10's, which is huge for prolific mobile photographers and videographers. However, Pixel 10's battery size is substantially larger than the S26's. It remains to be seen what kind of practical difference this makes, but it's something to look out for as real testing begins.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Google Pixel 10: Design Samsung's color array this year. Credit: Chris Taylor/Mashable

Neither of these phones marks much of a departure from their immediate predecessors. The Pixel 10 retains the same basic look as the Pixel 9, sticking with Google's signature Cyclops-like horizontal camera bar on the back. Google's latest Pixel comes in four colors: Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, and Obsidian. The Indigo color is especially nice to look at, in my opinion.

Galaxy S26 also looks pretty similar to the Galaxy S25, with three vertically oriented camera lenses on the upper left corner of the phone's backside. They do jut out a little more this year than they did before, so the S26 might be a tad more awkward on a flat surface than the S25 was. Lastly, the S26 comes in six colors: Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White, Silver Shadow, and Pink Gold. Those last two are online exclusives.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Google Pixel 10: AI features Magic Cue in action. Credit: Screenshot: Alex Perry/Mashable

The AI arms race has led both the Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10 to fairly similar places, at least in terms of which features fit onto a bullet point list for each device. How the features actually work will, at least in the case of the S26, have to wait until a real review.

Pixel 10 introduced live language translation during phone calls, which is also supported in Samsung's AI ecosystem. It also brought in Magic Cue, a context-dependent system that will surface certain information from your emails or text messages if they happen to come up during regular use. If someone texts you about an event in your calendar, that information will helpfully pop up right in front of you, for example. Galaxy S26 introduces something that sounds pretty similar in Now Nudge, but we don't yet know how (or if) it differs in function from Magic Cue.

Both devices also feature AI mainstays like Google's Circle to Search, as well as support for Gemini. Samsung's phone also comes with a newly enhanced version of the Bixby voice assistant, as well as access to Perplexity, if that's what you prefer.

While the S26 and Pixel 10 both feature plenty of AI image and video editing tools, Samsung has gone a step further this year by putting them all in one app, called Creative Studio. It's a one-stop shop for AI editing, rather than having to switch between two or three apps. Again, we don't yet know how this differs in practice from the Pixel 10 AI experience, but it's a good idea nonetheless. Aside from editing existing images, Creative Studio will also let users generate new images from text prompts.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Google Pixel 10: Cameras The signature Pixel camera bump. It's like that X-Men guy. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Of course, everyone wants a good camera setup on their smartphone. Here are the basic camera specs for the Galaxy S26:

• 50MP main lens

• 12MP ultra-wide lens

• 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom

• 12MP selfie lens

And here are the equivalent specs for Pixel 10:

• 48MP main lens

• 13MP ultra-wide lens

• 10.8MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom

• 10.5MP selfie lens

Purely as far as numbers are concerned, there aren't many big differences here. It's great that both of these base model phones have telephoto lenses, as that was, until recently, something you could only expect to get on Pro-level phones. The biggest advantage either phone has over the other in regard to camera specs is that the Pixel 10's telephoto lens is capable of greater optical zoom than the S26's. Google has been a winner in terms of mobile zoom capabilities for a few years now, and that seemingly hasn't changed here, though we'll have to wait until we do further testing to definitively declare a winner.

Head to Mashable's Samsung Galaxy Unpacked live blog for the latest updates as the newest Samsung products and features are unveiled.

There's a new base model in town.

At Galaxy Unpacked 2026, Samsung officially unveiled the standard Galaxy S26 — and on paper, it looks a lot like last year's Galaxy S25. But as always, the devil's in the details.

Let's not waste time: Here's how the base Galaxy S26 compares to the base Galaxy S25 in terms of price, design, specs, camera, and battery life.

Credit: Mashable / Joseph Maldonado Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Galaxy S25: Price

Samsung will be giving the Galaxy S26 a notable bump from the S25's launch price, which started closer to the traditional $799 base tier.

S25:

• 128GB/12GB RAM: $799.99

• 256GB/12GB RAM: $859.99

S26:

• 128GB/12GB RAM: $899.99

• 256GB/12GB RAM: $959.99

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Galaxy S25: Design and display

At first glance, the S26 doesn't reinvent the wheel. It sticks with a compact footprint and flat edges, measuring 71.7 x 149 x 7.2mm and weighing 167 grams. That’s slightly thicker and heavier than the S25, which came in at 5.84mm thick and 162 grams.

Display-wise, the S26 gets a 6.3-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The S25 featured a slightly smaller 6.2-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz support. In other words: marginally bigger screen, same smooth scrolling.

S25:

• 6.2-inch display

• 120Hz refresh rate

• Thickness: 5.84mm

• Weight: 162g

• Colors: Blueblack, Coralred, Pinkgold, Navy, Mint, Icy Blue, Silver Shadow

S26:

• 6.3-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display

• 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

• Thickness: 7.2mm

• Weight: 167g

• Colors: Black, White, Sky Blue, and Cobalt Violet

You're getting a slightly bigger screen and a touch more heft, but the overall footprint still firmly sits in "compact flagship" territory. If you liked the S25’s one-handed feel, the S26 won’t shock you.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Galaxy S25: Performance and software

Here's where the S26 makes a more meaningful leap.

The base Galaxy S26 is powered by Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, with some regions expected to get Samsung's in-house Exynos 2600 processor instead. Either way, this is a generational bump over the S25's Snapdragon 8 Elite silicon, promising better efficiency, stronger sustained performance, and more AI headroom.

S25:

• Snapdragon 8 Elite

• 12GB RAM

• 128GB or 256GB storage

• Android 15 at launch (One UI 7)

S26:

• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

• Exynos 2600

• 12GB RAM

• 256GB or 512GB storage

• Android 16 with One UI 8.5

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Galaxy S25: Camera

Here’s where things feel almost identical.

The S26 features:

• 50MP wide

• 12MP ultra-wide (F2.2)

• 10MP telephoto

• 12MP front camera

That's the same core setup as the base S25, which also packs a 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto, and 12MP selfie camera. So no megapixel jump this year. If there are improvements, they'll likely come down to image processing and Galaxy AI enhancements rather than new hardware.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Galaxy S25: Battery and charging

Battery capacity gets a modest bump.

The S26 ships with a 4,300mAh battery. The S25 had a 4,000mAh cell. That's not massive, but it's meaningful — especially if paired with software optimizations in Android 16 and One UI 8.5.

Samsung also claims the S26 can reach up to a 55 percent battery charge in 30 minutes. The S25 offered strong battery life for its size, but charging speeds weren’t a headline feature. This could be one of the more practical upgrades for everyday users.

Head to Mashable's Samsung Galaxy Unpacked live blog for the latest updates as the newest Samsung products and features are unveiled.

Samsung unveiled its new Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone at Samsung Unpacked on Wednesday — or as the tech giant put it, their new "AI phone." Coming in at 0.3 millimetres thinner and four grams lighter than last year's S25 Ultra, Samsung's 2026 flagship phone continues to lean heavily into AI, aiming to transition machine learning from a feature to an integral part of its infrastructure.

Yet despite this, one of the S26 Ultra's most exciting features has nothing to do with generative AI. Say hello to Samsung's Privacy display, a feature that makes it easier than ever to read smutty fanfiction on public transport.

Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

Advertised as a world first, the S26 Ultra's Privacy display reduces its screen's viewing angle so that curious bystanders will have a harder time seeing which part of Heated Rivalry you're rewatching. The display does this by using a combination of wide and narrow pixels, which are separated by partition walls. Activating Privacy display turns these wide pixels off, making the display only visible from a more acute angle than usual. You can also narrow this angle even further by turning on Maximum privacy protection mode. 

SEE ALSO: See Samsung Galaxy S26's Privacy Display feature in action

I had the opportunity to try the new Privacy display at a recent Samsung briefing, and found it remarkably effective — particularly its Maximum mode. Activating the Privacy display made the S26 Ultra's screen appear noticeably darker when viewed from wide angles, rendering it more difficult to read if not facing it head-on. However, the display really impressed when the stronger Maximum privacy protection mode was turned on, which immediately made the S26 Ultra's screen appear almost as if the phone had been shut down.

Both the Privacy and Maximum privacy protection modes slightly affect the display, washing out the colours. This is more pronounced in the latter, but still isn't particularly noticeable or bothersome in either when using the S26 Ultra for standard activities. Many users will likely become accustomed to it quickly, and I had to switch the modes on and off to properly appreciate the difference. 

Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

If the washed-out display bothers you, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra also allows you to set Privacy display to automatically activate only when using specific apps, entering passwords and PIN numbers, and when receiving notifications. This applies the Privacy display solely to the notification itself, leaving the rest of the screen visible to any snoopers in your vicinity. It's a cool feature that lets users fully enjoy the Samsung Galaxy's brightest-ever display while still maintaining their privacy. 

For others, simply having Maximum privacy protection turned on all the time may offer more peace of mind. Why hide your notifications while leaving your spicy BookTok preferences open for scrutiny? Fortunately, keeping this mode activated shouldn't drain your phone's battery either. A Samsung spokesperson couldn’t definitively say whether Privacy display has any impact on the S26 Ultra's battery life. However, considering that it involves turning pixels off, it seems reasonable to speculate that it may even have a small beneficial effect.

Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

To activate the Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy display, simply swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to open the Quick Settings panel. Tap the "Privacy display" button, and you'll be taken to a menu where you can toggle Privacy display on or choose the conditions for it to activate. Either "Turn on Privacy display," "Conditions for turning on," or both must be activated for Maximum privacy protection to work.

Samsung's new Privacy display is only available on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, so you'll have to spring for the flagship if you want it. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is available for pre-order now, starting at $1,299. It's scheduled to ship on March 11.