The new Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra brings one of the most interesting innovations in the field of screens: the Privacy Display function that limits the visibility of content to people watching from the side. However, a detailed analysis shows that this technology changes the structure of the screen even when the function is turned off.
Samsung presents this function as one of the key novelties of the new generation of Galaxy flagship phones, and the first impressions show that it is a rather useful option for privacy protection.
Privacy Display changes the arrangement of pixels on the screen
Portal GSMArena published a detailed analysis of the phone’s screen with the help of a digital microscope, comparing the Galaxy S26 Ultra with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra predecessor.
GSM ArenaWhen Privacy Display is activated, analysis shows that it effectively turns off about half of the screen’s pixels to limit the viewing angle. This means that the content is clearly visible only directly in front of the device, while it becomes much more difficult to read when viewed from the side.
Interestingly, the difference in pixel layout is noticeable even when the feature is turned off. The pixel structure on the Galaxy S26 Ultra screen is not as dense as that of the Galaxy S25 Ultra model.
Despite this, tests show that color reproduction, maximum screen brightness and viewing angles are almost identical to the previous generation. However, some users report that they have noticed slight changes in viewing angles, and some claim that the screen can cause a little more eye fatigue, reports 9to5Google.