Galaxy S26 Ultra Puts Privacy First with New Anti-Peeping Display

SadaNews Economy - Samsung has unveiled a new feature in its anticipated "Galaxy S26 Ultra" smartphone aimed at addressing one of the most annoying problems for smartphone users in public places: "peeping by those sitting near the user at the screen content".

The company published a promotional video titled "We don’t scroll and tell", showcasing how the Privacy Display feature works, which provides a kind of "privacy screen" integrated at the hardware level, preventing content from being viewed from the side angles while keeping it completely clear for the user looking directly at the screen.

Screen Privacy Feature

The video shows a person sitting on a subway and browsing content on their phone while two people next to them attempt to peek at the screen. Once the zero-peeking privacy option is activated, the screen turns black when viewed from the side, while remaining perfectly clear for the phone holder.

According to Samsung, the feature relies on the Flex Magic Pixel technology from its display division, Samsung Display, as it modifies the viewing angles at the pixel level, rather than through an external layer as is the case with traditional privacy screen protectors.

The feature is expected to be available upon the phone's launch on February 25, making it one of the significant upgrades in the Galaxy S26 Ultra compared to previous versions.

What’s the Difference from Traditional Privacy Stickers?

For years, many users have turned to anti-peeping screen protectors, which rely on blocking light at certain angles through a physical layer, often leading to reduced screen brightness and color fading even when viewed directly.

In the case of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the technology works dynamically. When looking directly at the screen, the content appears normal without any effect on brightness or color accuracy, while it gradually fades when the viewing angle changes.

Samsung also allows users manual control via a quick button, with the option to darken the entire screen or hide specific parts only, such as sensitive notifications.

This mechanism relies on the Color Filter on Encapsulation (CoE) technology in the new OLED panels, which combines the color filter with the light-emitting layer into a single structure. This reduces light loss, allowing for restricted viewing angles without sacrificing brightness levels or color accuracy.

Major Upgrade in the Screen

Reports suggest that the Galaxy S26 Ultra may receive a new generation of CoE OLED panels, promising higher brightness, more accurate colors, and improved energy efficiency.

The CoE technology changes how the screen interacts with light, as the color filters are brought closer to the light source, providing purer colors and a wider color range while maintaining low power consumption. This is an important feature when using the phone in direct sunlight, improving outdoor visibility without draining the battery.

Well-known tech leaker Ice Universe hinted at the possibility of adopting Depolarizer technology, which reduces internal reflections within the screen, enhancing contrast and image sharpness.

Potential Improvements

The expected upgrades are not limited to the screen alone, as there are rumors of charging speeds exceeding the current 45 watts used in the Galaxy S25 Ultra, in addition to using a SUS CAN type battery that may offer higher capacity or longer life without increasing size.

Regarding the camera, while it is likely to maintain the same megapixel count, reports suggest the development of a larger sensor, which could improve low-light photography performance and enhance dynamic range.

Conversely, leaks indicate that the Privacy Display feature may remain exclusive to the Galaxy S26 Ultra model at launch, without including the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus versions.

Samsung will unveil its latest Galaxy S series smartphones on February 25 in San Francisco, aiming to enhance the pace of their device rollout among users.

It is also expected that the base and Plus models will finally receive Gorilla Armor glass, which has remained exclusive to the Ultra series since the launch of the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

If this information proves accurate, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could represent one of the biggest screen updates that Samsung has offered in recent years, combining display quality, energy efficiency, and enhanced privacy, along with potential improvements in battery and camera.