Galaxy S26 Ultra Might Finally Let You Ditch the Screen Protector For Good

Samsung may be getting ready to take the wraps off the Galaxy S26 series. Leaks suggest that the company will announce the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra in late February, with sales starting in March. While that’s still a little way off, more Galaxy S26 Ultra leaks are coming out. One recent leak even claims that the Galaxy S26 Ultra may not need a screen protector at all.

Galaxy S26 Ultra tipped to feature even more durable Gorilla Glass

Ice Universe suggests that Samsung will use next-generation Gorilla Glass on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which could reduce or possibly eliminate the need for screen protectors altogether. The tipster says the Galaxy S26 Ultra will feature a new Corning cover glass with “ultra-high strength” along with advanced anti-reflective treatment and support for the upcoming Privacy Display feature.

That would build on what Samsung already did with the Galaxy S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra. Both phones introduced Gorilla Armor glass with strong anti-reflective properties and ceramic-based durability. This helped the screen resist scratches better than older Gorilla Glass versions. In everyday use, that coating has made outdoor visibility noticeably better. Suffice to say, plenty of users may already skip matte or anti-glare protectors because of it.

The S26 Ultra is expected to take things a step further. If the durability claims hold up, tempered glass protectors could become mostly unnecessary. Add the Privacy Display feature into the mix, and even privacy films might not be needed anymore. Still, Samsung sells official screen protectors for its current flagships, and some people will always want the extra peace of mind that an added layer provides.

Drops, deep scratches, and edge impacts are still part of daily life, no matter how tough the glass gets. I could be wrong about this, and I honestly hope I am. And speaking of screen protectors, if you sign up for our mystery box and pre-order the Galaxy S26 series, you’ll get a screen protector and a lot more for FREE.