Samsung's confirmed Galaxy S26 Ultra display upgrade fixes my long-standing annoyance

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• A confirmed Samsung feature allows its phones to block out parts of the screen when viewed at an angle.
• The privacy display feature will likely debut with the Galaxy S26 series at Unpacked.
• Users can customize which parts of the screen are blocked and turn the feature off altogether.

We're still waiting for Samsung to announce when and where its next Unpacked event will happen, but a recent feature teaser is already getting me excited for the expected Galaxy S26 series and One UI 8.5. 

There's no official name for the feature yet, so let's call it Privacy Display -- and it's going to be a big deal for both regular consumers and business users.

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That's because Privacy Display effectively blocks out parts of the phone screen when viewed at an angle, preventing snoopers and nosey passersby from seeing essential information. Think privacy screen protector, but built into the phone and much more customizable.

How it works

How Samsung achieves this is through pixel-level light control, adjusting its OLED emission so that light only shines toward the user when facing directly at the phone screen. As you pan left and right, the part of the Privacy Display that you can set to block sensitive notifications, 2FA codes, and more fades to black.

Notably, the feature wouldn't reduce the phone's overall brightness or color depth, unlike a physical privacy screen protector.

Here's a rendering by industry analyst Ice Universe of how Privacy Display works:

What Samsung hasn't confirmed yet

While there's a lot to be excited about with Privacy Display, some questions remain unanswered, including what models will support the feature. Considering Samsung's rumored production plan for the Galaxy S26 series leans favorable toward the Ultra model, I wouldn't be surprised if Privacy Display launches exclusively on the company's flagship phone.

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There's also the question of how much Samsung will allow users to cover up with the feature; whether they'll be able to turn on Privacy Display on a per-app basis, or only with priority notifications. Expect more clarity when the Galaxy S26 series launches.

Bottom line (for now)

Such practical security upgrades should have broad appeal, whether you're a commuter on a crowded train every morning or a business user handling confidential spreadsheets and emails. Since Privacy Display is integrated with Samsung Knox, IT departments can also enforce the feature on corporate-managed devices.