Samsung Galaxy S26 Privacy Display: Stop Prying Eyes on Your Screen

Samsung is said to be working on a new function dubbed Privacy Display in its future One UI 8.5 firmware, which will limit the visibility of the screen from the side but will allow the content to be readable when viewed directly from the front. The leaks from the early firmware builds indicate that the company is focusing on public areas, where accidental glances at the screen can lead to the loss of privacy.

Media reports state that the feature will not be always on. It can be activated by the users manually through Settings or via a Quick Panel toggle. Depending on what mode the user is in, the feature can also work with Samsung's Modes and Routines, getting activated automatically if the user is going out or when the user is connecting to mobile data.

Samsung's new technology is different from that of the other players in the market since it depends on the screen tech rather than the cameras. Just recently, Samsung Display unveiled the Flex Magic Pixel OLED, which is the technology for altering viewing angles and controlling with pixels. The Galaxy S26 lineup might be the initial consumer electronics powered with such a technology, but the company has not yet given the green light to its deployment.

The idea of having a privacy screen has always been in the market for a long time. The Pura 80 Ultra of Huawei uses eye-tracking and facial recognition to inform the users when someone is watching their screen, thus giving the user instant notifications. The Samsung solution via the alteration of the display hardware will not be as effective but still different. The consumers and the analysts will keep an eye on how much the panel-based method will be able to win or attract users when the Galaxy S26 series launches in February 2026.

Privacy Display would probably be a good option for people who are concerned with security of their data in public places and at the same time it would add up to the software features already available. However, there is still uncertainty about specifications in terms of prices, compatible devices, and the final software rollout.