The Galaxy S26 Ultra isn’t just a hardware upgrade — Samsung has packed it with some of the most ambitious software features seen on any Android phone. From RAW portrait photography to OS-level agentic AI, here’s every new feature broken down.

Galaxy S26 Ultra: New Software Features at a Glance

Feature	What It Does
Virtual Aperture	RAW portrait mode across all lenses — not just the primary
Agentic AI	OS-level AI that executes multi-step tasks across apps autonomously
4:2:2 APV Codec	Professional-grade video colour subsampling for post-production workflows
Built-in LUTs for Log Video	Apply cinematic colour grades directly in-camera to log footage
360° Horizon Lock	Keeps footage level across a full 360° rotation — no gimbal needed
Display Privacy Customisation	Fine-tune the Privacy Display — control viewing angle and intensity
Integrated Perplexity	AI-powered search built into the OS, not just a downloadable app
Audio Eraser (3rd party apps)	Remove unwanted background noise in videos shot via third-party camera apps
Photo Assist	AI-powered photo editing — object removal, background replacement, remastering
Creative Studio	Generative AI creative tools for transforming images and video
Now Nudge	Contextual AI suggestions based on time, location, and activity
Call Screening	AI screens and transcribes calls in real time — filters spam automatically

Why These Features Matter

The Virtual Aperture across all lenses is a genuine photography milestone — until now, RAW portrait-style depth control was locked to the main sensor. Extending it to the ultrawide and telephoto lenses gives S26 Ultra users creative control that no other smartphone offers at this level.

The 4:2:2 APV Codec and built-in LUTs for log video are aimed squarely at content creators and filmmakers — 4:2:2 colour subsampling retains far more colour data for grading, and having LUTs applied in-camera to log footage eliminates the need for desktop colour correction for most social content.

360° Horizon Lock is the feature that could make gimbals redundant for casual videographers — keeping footage perfectly level through a full barrel roll is a capability previously requiring dedicated stabilisation hardware.

Agentic AI at the OS level builds on Google’s Android AppFunctions framework, letting Gemini execute complex multi-step tasks across apps without user intervention — booking a ride while replying to a message while setting a calendar reminder, all from a single voice command.

Integrated Perplexity as a system-level search assistant rather than a standalone app makes AI-powered web search as seamless as a long-press. Call Screening with real-time transcription finally brings a feature Android users in other markets have had for years — critically useful for filtering spam and telemarketing calls.

Also check our Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra full review and best AI camera features on smartphones in 2026 on TechnoSports.

FAQs

Does the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Virtual Aperture work on all cameras including ultrawide and telephoto?

Yes — Virtual Aperture with RAW portrait control is available across all lenses on the S26 Ultra, not just the primary camera.

What is Agentic AI on the Galaxy S26 Ultra?

It is OS-level AI that can autonomously execute complex, multi-step tasks across multiple apps simultaneously — going beyond simple voice commands to act as a true digital assistant.