[Q&A] A First Look at Galaxy S26 Ultra and Buds4 Pro with Parker Burton

After going hands-on with the new Galaxy S26 series and Galaxy Buds4 series at Galaxy Unpacked, content creator and tech reviewer Parker Burton sat down with the Samsung Newsroom to share his first impressions.

What was your experience like at Galaxy Unpacked?

Unpacked is always so much fun. It’s my favorite event of the year — you can feel the energy in the room!

I’m a huge Samsung fan, so I love being able to try out all the new devices right away and it’s so impressive seeing the event production in person.

After spending some time with the Galaxy S26 series, what stood out to you?

I try out so many phones, and Galaxy S Ultra devices are always my favorite. I love seeing the improvements. Galaxy S26 Ultra does so many things well. To me, it’s the most well-rounded phone experience on the market. There’s a reason Ultra continues to win my top smartphone of the year.

It might not be as flashy, but I’m actually really excited about the improved charging speeds. It’s such a practical update and people will see the benefit every day.

Horizon Lock is a really cool new feature. It keeps your shot level even when your phone is moving. I’m looking forward to sharing that one. Content creators will get a lot out of it, but also anyone filming on the go, shooting outdoors or action shots, they’re going to love it as well.

For those who want the latest experience, things like the faster charging speeds, the new processor, and Privacy Display are some great updates. But I also know a lot of people aren’t upgrading their phone every year, so for anyone who hasn’t grabbed one of these new devices in a while, now’s the time.

You posted a video about not liking traditional privacy screen protectors — what was your reaction to Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display?

Yeah, I’ve been pretty vocal that I am not really a fan of traditional privacy screen protectors. To me, the purpose of a nice AMOLED display is the viewing angles. When I first heard that Samsung was adding the Privacy Display, I wasn’t sure what to think. Then I learned about the level of control you have.  You can turn it on and off — and not only that, you can choose to have it protect specific content on your screen. After seeing that, I was completely on board. It’s so cool because you get the privacy benefits without ruining the viewing angles of these great displays.

What does the Galaxy S26 series signal about where Samsung is headed?

I think there’s no question Samsung is at the forefront. They continue to build really solid devices that anyone should be comfortable buying.

When it comes to a phone, the screen is so important, and year after year Samsung proves their display tech is the best. Whether it’s visual quality, foldable screens, or different form factors, you can’t match Samsung. Privacy Display is just the latest example — I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything else like that on another phone.

After trying them out, what impressed you most about the Galaxy Buds4 Pro?

I really like the new design. The brushed metal is distinctly Galaxy and I’m a big fan of that.

I do a lot of traveling, so the compact design and strong ANC are huge. The improvements to the woofer are a big upgrade, everybody loves bass. And, of course, Samsung nails the connectivity experience between the Galaxy Buds and your other devices.

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See Parker’s video breakdown of the latest innovations announced at Galaxy Unpacked here.

Learn more and preorder the Galaxy S26 series and Galaxy Buds4 series at Samsung.com.