TL;DR
A new leak surfaced from SammyGuru showing an animation in Samsung's Tips app that demonstrates a Privacy display feature for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The feature, surfaced earlier in One UI 8.5 builds, appears to limit viewing angles, can be toggled in Quick Settings, and may activate automatically under user-specified conditions.
What happened
A recent investigation into Samsung's preinstalled Tips app produced an animation that illustrates how a forthcoming Privacy display mode will behave on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The leak, credited to SammyGuru, indicates the control will live in Settings > Display and that Samsung will also add a Quick Settings tile for manual control. According to the assets revealed, the display reduces visibility from off-center angles to protect on-screen content in public. Users can configure the feature to switch on automatically when particular apps are open, when specific notifications arrive, or in certain locations such as elevators. Earlier sightings of the capability date back to an early One UI 8.5 build from September, and screenshots have shown a 'Maximum privacy' option that further dims the screen. Initial reports suggest Samsung will combine a Flex Magic Pixel OLED panel with AI to implement the effect, though the feature could remain limited to the Ultra model.
Why it matters
- Could reduce the need for physical privacy screen protectors if the software works reliably.
- Automatic activation for apps, notifications or locations would make private viewing in public more convenient.
- If exclusive to the S26 Ultra, it may influence upgrade decisions among privacy-conscious users.
- The feature's use of display hardware plus AI may represent a new direction for software-driven privacy tools.
Key facts
- Privacy display was first spotted in an early One UI 8.5 build in September.
- SammyGuru enabled an animation inside the Samsung Tips app that shows the feature in action.
- The control is expected to appear under Settings > Display and as a Quick Settings toggle.
- Privacy display can be set to activate automatically for specific apps, notifications, or locations.
- Leaked screenshots show a 'Maximum privacy' option that makes the screen dimmer.
- Reports indicate Samsung will use a Flex Magic Pixel OLED screen together with AI to enable the feature.
- The capability may be restricted to the Galaxy S26 Ultra rather than the whole S26 lineup.
- The Galaxy S26 series' announcement is rumored for late February.
What to watch next
- Official reveal timing and full specifications at the Galaxy S26 series launch (rumored late February).
- Impact on battery life when Privacy display activates frequently: not confirmed in the source.
- Whether Privacy display will be available on non-Ultra S26 models or rolled out to older devices: not confirmed in the source.
- If other manufacturers adopt similar software-driven viewing-angle privacy features: not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- One UI: Samsung's custom Android user interface that adds features and design changes on top of the Android operating system.
- Quick Settings: A section in Android's notification shade that provides one-tap toggles for commonly used system features such as Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, and display modes.
- OLED: Organic Light-Emitting Diode, a type of display technology where each pixel emits its own light, allowing for deep blacks and high contrast.
- Privacy screen protector: A physical accessory applied to a phone's display that narrows the screen's viewing angle to block side glances.
- AI (artificial intelligence): Software techniques that enable devices to perform tasks that typically require human-like perception, decision-making, or pattern recognition.
Reader FAQ
When will Privacy display be announced?
An announcement for the Galaxy S26 series is rumored for late February.
How does the feature activate?
Leaked assets show manual control via a Quick Settings toggle and options to automatically enable it for selected apps, notifications, or locations.
Will Privacy display be available on all Galaxy S26 models?
Not confirmed in the source.
Will using Privacy display reduce battery life?
Not confirmed in the source.
Elaborate leak reveals the Galaxy S26 Ultra's 'Privacy display' feature By Chethan Rao Published 11 minutes ago Chethan is a reporter at Android Police, focusing on the weekend news coverage…
Sources
- Elaborate leak reveals the Galaxy S26 Ultra's 'Privacy display' feature
- One UI 8.5 leak confirms Galaxy S26's genius display feature
- One UI 8.5 leaks show off Samsung's new Privacy Display …
- Here's how the Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display could …
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