Samsung has unveiled a new privacy display feature on the latest Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, which enables users to control off-angle visibility with a simple button press rather than depending on external screen protectors.
The technology behind this feature involves two sets of pixels integrated into the display. One set projects the image directly towards the viewer (narrow pixel), while the other disperses light to the sides for broader viewing angles (wide pixel). By deactivating the wide pixels, the screen maintains its appearance to the user but appears significantly dimmer from side perspectives. Moreover, an additional setting decreases contrast for off-angle viewers, making it challenging to read on-screen text.
Samsung has incorporated customization options into the system. Users can choose to obscure specific elements, like pop-up notifications, or set the privacy mode to activate automatically when entering a PIN or launching particular applications. Additionally, the feature can be linked to routines to enable automatic activation based on location.
In terms of physical attributes, the Samsung S26 Ultra showcases minor hardware enhancements. It is marginally slimmer and lighter than its predecessor, measuring 7.9mm in thickness and weighing 214 grams, compared to the previous 8.2mm thickness and 218 grams weight. The device has transitioned back to an aluminum frame from titanium, aligning its design more closely with the S26 series and departing from the angular aesthetics of earlier Note models. The handset does not have built-in magnets but includes them in official cases.
The camera hardware has also received updates. The primary 200-megapixel camera now boasts an f/1.4 aperture, expanded from f/1.7, while the 50-megapixel 5x telephoto lens has shifted from f/3.4 to f/2.9. These brighter lenses aim to enhance low-light performance by allowing more light to reach the sensor.
All variants of the S26 Ultra will be equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset, customized by Samsung, and will be available worldwide. The starting price remains at $1,299 for the 256 GB storage model with 12 GB of RAM, staying consistent with last year’s pricing.
