Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Named to TIME's Best Inventions of 2026

Three Samsung products on the list

TIME's Best Inventions list is selected by the magazine's global network of expert contributors and editors. According to the announcement, it recognizes the year's most significant new products and ideas, judged on factors including originality, efficacy, ambition and impact.

Besides the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the list includes the Bespoke AI Family Hub™ Refrigerator with AI Vision and the Odyssey G8 Gaming Monitor (G80HS). Samsung says the Galaxy S26 Ultra's inclusion is the fourth time Samsung Galaxy devices have been recognized on the list.

What Samsung says sets the Galaxy S26 Ultra apart

Samsung describes the Galaxy S26 Ultra as its most advanced Galaxy S series experience to date, with a powerful camera system, premium performance and Galaxy AI. The company highlights several features:

• The world's first built-in Privacy Display for mobile phones, according to Samsung.
• Super Steady video with horizontal lock.
• Tools for creating pro-grade content.

Samsung also notes that earlier this year the phone was recognized as Consumer Reports' top-rated phone. The company adds that Consumer Reports does not endorse products or services.

The release includes several caveats. The Privacy Display must be enabled in settings, and it limits the screen's viewing range to reduce peripheral visibility. Some changes in image quality may occur outside that range, and some information may still be visible to others depending on angle or brightness. Super Steady results may vary with editing method and shooting conditions. Galaxy AI basic features are free, while enhanced Samsung AI features and third-party AI features may be subject to different terms and fees.

Refrigerator and monitor also recognized

The Bespoke AI Family Hub™ Refrigerator with AI Vision offers AI-powered food management, a personalized kitchen experience and hands-free convenience, according to Samsung. This year's major software update upgraded AI Vision so it can recognize and track a wider range of fresh and processed foods, which Samsung says makes meal planning and grocery shopping easier. Enhanced Now Brief and Voice ID features deliver personalized calendars, reminders and recipes. Auto Open & Close Doors let users open and close the refrigerator with a light touch or a simple voice command.

Samsung's footnotes say AI Vision requires a Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account. Unrecognized items may be listed as unknown, AI Vision cannot identify or list food in the freezer, and users may need to check and adjust the list manually.

The 32-inch Odyssey G8 Gaming Monitor (G80HS) is described by Samsung as the industry's first 6K gaming monitor, a significant step beyond 4K gaming standards. It has 224PPI and an IPS panel, and delivers 6K resolution at up to 165Hz. Dual Mode enables up to 330Hz at 3K resolution, letting users balance image clarity with responsiveness.

What it means

For Samsung, the recognition adds to a run of accolades for the Galaxy S26 Ultra and its wider product range. For buyers, the list is one outside signal, but the feature claims, including the Privacy Display and the monitor's refresh rates, come from Samsung itself, and the company's own footnotes point to conditions and limits that apply in real use. More information on the Galaxy S26 Ultra is available at Samsung.com.