- The built-in Privacy Display will limit viewing angles and may dim the screen.
- Automatic activation in public places and control by apps, notifications and PiP.
- Auto Privacy and Maximum Privacy modes with adjustable intensity.
- A hardware-linked feature of the S26 Ultra; it aims to maintain 120Hz AMOLED quality without accessories.
Saying goodbye to the physical protector for other people's curiosity is closer: everything points to the fact that The Galaxy S26 Ultra will include a privacy screen feature built into the panel itself.The idea is that the phone Limit what is visible from the sides in environments such as subways, buses, or elevators., reducing prying eyes without having to add extra layers.
This novelty, referred to in the code of One UI 8.5 , the Privacy Display, would allow adjusting both the intensity of the effect as the visible content when activated. In this way, the user decides whether to keep locking elements (PIN or pattern) accessible, hide sensitive notifications or even which apps can remain visible in floating window.
How the S26 Ultra's Privacy Screen Would Work
According to the strings and menus detected in builds of One UI 8.5, the S26 Ultra would incorporate a electronic mode of privacy capable of varying the acceptable viewing angle and dimming the panel when necessary, switching manually or automatically.
- Limited viewing angles from the sides to avoid reading from adjacent seats or over the shoulder.
- Smart dimming which reduces brightness and contrast when activating privacy.
- Intensity regulation to balance legibility and discretion depending on the environment.
- automatic activation in crowded places detected by the system (elevator, subway, bus).
The feature has been seen in Screenshots shared by leaker Ach on X, where configuration screens appear with descriptions such as “Limits visibility from side angles to protect privacy in public". All of this points to a control quite granular of the panel's behavior.
Beyond the main switch, there are settings to decide what is shown and what is not When Privacy Display comes into action. It is an approximation that imitates physical filters, but without external accessories and with more flexibility.
Modes, triggers, and hideable content
Notable adjustments include a automatic privacy mode which is activated in certain apps or in locations identified as “public places”. This also includes custom conditions to adapt the experience to each user.
- Auto Privacy: Proactive protection in sensitive apps or when detecting crowded spaces.
- Maximum privacy: Reduces brightness more aggressively and narrows the viewing angle.
- Programme by time slots and activation by location for common scenarios.
- Selection by app: Apply the filter to banking, messaging, or any other application indicated.
You can also delimit interface elements: keep visible options of PIN, pattern or password on the lock screen, hide notifications, lock photos marked as private in the Gallery and even decide whether a floating window (PiP) is protected.
This approach not only stops casual voyeurs; it also allows you to work with sensitive information without giving up mobile use while on the go. The potential for automation will help the system adapt to each context with minimal effort.
Requirements, availability, and the challenge of maintaining panel quality
References point to the fact that Privacy Display would depend on specific hardware of the panel and would be limited to Galaxy s26 ultraIndustry sources suggest that Samsung will reserve this new feature for its top-of-the-range model, following its usual strategy with display technologies.
One of the big questions is how Samsung will balance the image quality of the AMOLED QHD+ panel at 120 Hz with visibility restrictions. The goal is for the experience to remain clear from the front while simultaneously becoming opaque from the sides.
There is talk of a combined hardware and software solution, with internal references to a “Flex Magic Pixel” type pixel technology that would adjust the panel's behavior. Although these references are not officially confirmed, they fit with the need for control fine and dynamic of the subpixel to achieve the effect.
If confirmed, the proposal would offer a competitive advantage over phones that still rely on physical film. The key, however, will be for the system to work. fluidly and without excessively penalizing brightness or contrast when privacy is not active.
Overall, the leaks outline a feature designed for those who use their mobile phone anytime, anywhere: fewer prying eyes, more control and the ability to fine-tune privacy without the hassle of complicated accessories or menus.
Based on what we've seen in the One UI 8.5 code and the released configuration screens, everything indicates that the privacy screen will arrive with the S26 Ultra as the most striking new feature in terms of visual discretion. If the implementation is successful, it could set a standard in privacy in mobility that other manufacturers end up adopting.
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