Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Review: The Privacy Screen

Did you privately ask ChatGPT how to bring up nonmonogamy with your husband? It's all over socials! Your commuting neighbor on the train snuck a glance at your phone, guffawed internally, and blasted it on X with a satisfied smirk. At least you're still anonymous.

This is a scenario that Samsung's new smartphone avoids. It's rare for a new smartphone hardware innovation to affect so much of our day-to-day experience, but that's exactly what the Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26 Ultra does. Over the last two weeks, I have enjoyed an extra level of comfort knowing that my nosy public transit neighbors and fellow coffee shop lovers have a hard time seeing anything on my screen.

Barring the display, this isn't a revolutionary upgrade over the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which wasn't a revolutionary upgrade over the Galaxy S24 Ultra. If you're coming from a flagship Galaxy smartphone from a year or two ago, maybe even three, you do not need to spend $1,300 to upgrade unless something is seriously wrong with your smartphone. But if you have an older phone, the Ultra hits some strong highs and offers a well-rounded experience.

The Screen

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Samsung's Privacy Display is exclusive to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and it's a hardware feature built into the screen. It mimics privacy screen protectors without manually applying one to your phone, and it doesn't dramatically reduce screen brightness or image quality.