Samsung Reveals Privacy Display Ahead of Galaxy S26 Ultra Debut

It’s no secret that Samsung is working on a new privacy display feature for its Galaxy smartphones. The company has now officially confirmed its existence, which protects users from shoulder surfing in public spaces. The upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra may be the first to get this on-screen privacy protection.

Privacy Display feature keeps your screen hidden from prying eyes

Samsung’s privacy display feature makes phone screens harder to see from side angles. This means content remains clear when looking at the screen directly, but appears dim to people nearby. The feature aims to protect sensitive information, such as messages, passwords, and notifications, in public places like buses and trains.

Samsung also shared a few videos (1, 2, 3) showing how users can check messages or enter passwords on public transit without worrying about who might be watching. The company says it took more than five years of engineering, testing, and refinement to develop the feature. “The result is a fusion of hardware and software expertly calibrated to protect you without getting in your way,” it adds.

The best thing is that you can customize the privacy layer however you want. For example, you can customize visibility for apps, password entry, and notifications. We previously learned that Auto Privacy mode automatically turns on the privacy display when you open sensitive apps or are in crowded places. There’s a Maximum Privacy option that makes the screen even dimmer. Moreover, you can set custom conditions to decide when privacy protection activates.

Samsung also highlighted its Knox security platform, which has protected Galaxy devices for more than a decade. While Knox keeps data safe through hardware security and encryption, the new privacy display brings an additional layer by protecting what people can see on your screen. The company describes it as “privacy you can see and security you can feel.”

Reports suggest the privacy display feature will be part of One UI 8.5. However, it also depends on hardware-based technology, so it may be limited to premium flagship models, such as the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra. That said, if the clues are correct, the Galaxy S26 and S26+ should also get the feature.