Three Samsung Electronics products – a smartphone, refrigerator, and gaming monitor – have been recognized among TIME magazine’s Best Inventions of 2026. The Galaxy S26 Ultra was lauded for its privacy protection features, the Bespoke AI Family Hub refrigerator for its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered ingredient management technology, and the Odyssey G8 for its 6K high-resolution and high refresh rate capabilities.
TIME magazine announced on Thursday that it had selected the Galaxy S26 Ultra in the consumer electronics category, the Bespoke AI Family Hub refrigerator in the home appliance category, and the Odyssey G8 gaming monitor in the entertainment and gaming category.
TIME hailed the Galaxy S26 Ultra as a smartphone focused on privacy protection, highlighting its innovative Privacy Display feature, which effectively prevents side-angle viewing of the screen, as a key advantage.
The magazine noted that users can customize when to activate the Privacy Display or apply it selectively to specific content like pop-up notifications. This offers a more flexible and convenient privacy protection experience compared to traditional privacy screen protectors.
The device also boasts advanced Galaxy AI features such as Now Nudge, which proactively suggests relevant information by analyzing user behavior and intentions. Equipped with a 200-megapixel wide-angle camera and a wider aperture than its predecessor, the Galaxy S26 Ultra delivers crisp images even in low-light environments.
Samsung’s Bespoke AI Family Hub refrigerator earned recognition as the top invention in the home appliance category for its innovative AI Vision feature, which uses internal cameras to automatically identify and manage food items.
Since debuting AI Vision in the Family Hub line in 2024, Samsung has continuously refined its technology to enhance the food storage and management experience.
Through the SmartThings app, an AI-powered integrated connectivity platform, users can easily monitor the inventory of food items in their refrigerator. The AI Food Manager feature systematically tracks expiration dates and offers personalized recipe suggestions.
The Odyssey G8, a 32-inch gaming monitor named the best invention in the entertainment and gaming category, is the first of its kind to support 6K resolution, delivering exceptional image quality and an immersive visual experience.
Samsung Electronics has a track record of products featured in TIME’s Best Inventions list. The magazine previously recognized the Galaxy Z Flip3 in 2021, the Galaxy S22 Ultra in 2022, the Galaxy Z Flip5 in 2023, the Neo QLED 8K Television (TV) and Music Frame speaker in 2024, and the Micro Red, Green and Blue (RGB) TV, The Frame Pro, and The Premiere 5 in 2025 as Best Inventions of the Year.
