Samsung has once again grabbed the spotlight with its latest innovation, introducing the Privacy Display feature on its new Galaxy S26 Ultra at the highly anticipated Unpacked event held on February 26, 2026. As the tech world watched, Samsung unveiled a host of upgrades to its flagship phone, but it was the Privacy Display that truly stole the show, prompting Mashable’s Amanda Yeo to describe it as "the coolest innovation by far" at the event.
At a time when hardware breakthroughs have become increasingly rare, the Privacy Display stands out as a refreshing leap forward. According to The Verge’s hands-on report, the technology isn’t entirely new—similar privacy screens have appeared on laptops before—but seeing it implemented so seamlessly on a smartphone drew considerable praise. The feature is designed to protect users from prying eyes by limiting the viewing angle of the screen, ensuring that only the person holding the device can clearly see what’s displayed.
So, how does it work? The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s display is built with two distinct sets of pixels: one set projects the image straight ahead, while the other beams light off to the sides. When Privacy Display is activated, the second set of pixels is turned off, making the screen appear dim or even unreadable from an angle. "I flipped the feature on and off while looking at the screen from an angle; it seemed to reduce the image’s contrast, making text very difficult to read," wrote The Verge. The effect is especially pronounced in Maximum mode, which, as Yeo observed, "immediately made the S26 Ultra's screen appear almost as if the phone had been shut down."
Privacy Display isn’t just about hardware trickery—it’s also packed with smart software integrations. Users can set the feature to obscure notifications as they pop up, a handy option for those moments when you’d rather keep your messages private in public spaces. For example, Samsung’s presentation suggested this could be particularly useful when ferrying a friend to a surprise birthday party, ensuring no spoilers appear on your screen. The feature also allows specific apps, like mobile banking, to always use Privacy Display, shielding sensitive information from wandering eyes.
Customization is a major focus. The Verge highlighted how users can tie Privacy Display into routines, automatically toggling the feature based on location—turning it off at home and on when leaving. It can also be set to activate when entering a PIN or opening particular apps. Whether you’re holding the phone in portrait or landscape, the privacy effect remains consistent, making it versatile for a range of scenarios.
For those who value convenience, Samsung has made activating Privacy Display remarkably easy. Instead of digging through settings, users can simply press the power button twice to toggle the feature on or off. This quick access is perfect for those moments when you suddenly need privacy—say, if you’re sending a confidential message and someone unexpectedly walks into the room.
Beyond privacy, the Galaxy S26 Ultra brings a host of other updates. The phone is now slimmer and lighter than its predecessor, measuring 7.9mm thick (down from 8.2mm) and weighing 214 grams (down from 218 grams). The change is partly due to Samsung’s switch back to aluminum from titanium, a move that not only reduces weight but also aligns the Ultra’s aesthetics with the regular S26 and S26 Plus. Gone are the sharp, boxy edges reminiscent of the Note series; the Ultra now features the same gentle curves as its siblings.
The camera hardware has also seen meaningful improvements. Both the main 200-megapixel camera and the 50-megapixel 5x zoom now boast brighter lenses, with apertures widened from f/1.7 to f/1.4 and f/3.4 to f/2.9, respectively. This means better performance in low-light conditions—a welcome upgrade for photography enthusiasts who often find themselves shooting after dark.
Under the hood, every S26 Ultra sold worldwide is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, specially tuned for Samsung. Despite supply chain pressures, tariffs, and inflation, the price remains unchanged from last year: $1299 for a model with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM. As The Verge pointed out, "that’s about the best news we can hope for." The device is already available for pre-order as of February 26, 2026.
Software enhancements are just as prominent as the hardware changes. Samsung has leaned heavily into artificial intelligence, introducing a suite of smart features that promise to make everyday tasks easier and more intuitive. The gallery app now supports natural language generative photo edits, allowing users to modify images with simple voice commands—much like the capabilities found in Google Photos. Want to blend two photos, so it looks like you’re holding your dog or wearing a different shirt? Just tell the AI what you want, and it’ll handle the rest.
The S26 series is among the first to integrate the new Google Gemini assistant, which brings agentic AI capabilities to the device. At launch, Gemini’s focus is on ridesharing and grocery shopping—users can let the AI book an Uber or order groceries, either watching its progress or letting it run in the background. While the feature is still in its early stages, The Verge called it "a pretty serious step toward the agentic AI future we’ve all been promised."
Other smart features include Now Nudge, which provides contextual prompts in the keyboard—if a friend asks about your availability, the phone will offer shortcuts to your calendar or relevant events. Scam detection for phone calls and AI-powered call screening for unknown numbers add extra layers of security and convenience. Even Samsung’s Bixby assistant has received an upgrade, now capable of answering more complex questions about the phone’s settings using natural language.
With all these additions, the S26 Ultra feels less like a radical departure and more like a thoughtful evolution of Samsung’s flagship line. The company has managed to blend meaningful hardware innovation with a host of intelligent software features, all while maintaining the price point and refining the device’s design. As Mashable’s Yeo summed up, "There’s plenty for privacy lovers to test out with Privacy Display—and the Galaxy S26 Ultra is available for pre-order for those interested."
In a smartphone market where genuine surprises are increasingly rare, Samsung’s Privacy Display has managed to generate real excitement, offering users a tangible way to protect their privacy without sacrificing convenience or style. The S26 Ultra’s combination of thoughtful design, smart features, and privacy-focused innovation positions it as a standout contender in 2026’s crowded field of flagship phones.