We’re a couple of days away from Samsung’s February Galaxy Unpacked event, which is likely to set the stage for its latest Galaxy S26 series smartphones. There have been several S26 leaks in the lead-up to the event, along with pre-order bonuses being teased last week. Another interesting development is Samsung’s new ‘privacy screen’ technology, which has been making the rounds on social media lately. One person has got a hold of the phone early and has demoed the tech.

A well-known source of smartphone leaks, @UniverseIce, has provided a ‘deep dive’ on the technology labeled “Native Hardware Privacy Screen Technology”. This seems to be based on leaked data showing a graphic of the multi-layered panel, which helps shift the display’s “refractive index” and narrow the viewing angle. To put it simply, it makes it difficult for people sitting beside you to see what’s on your screen by tinting the screen sharply when viewed at an acute angle.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra privacy display and privacy protection

Tech YouTuber Sahil Karoul claims to have sourced the new flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra ahead of launch and has previewed the privacy display technology. Within the phone’s settings, users will be able to choose between enabling privacy display or “Maximum privacy protection,” the latter of which essentially blacks out the screen when not viewed straight-on. @Cartidise on X showed a quick side-by-side comparison of the two different settings.

It should be noted that we cannot confirm the legitimacy of Karoul’s pre-launch S26 Ultra model, but it’s certainly convincing. Samsung has yet to officially announce the S26 series, only referring to “our new AI phone” in official spaces so far, but the series will more than likely be announced when Galaxy Unpacked takes place on February 25.

UniverseIce also points towards rumors that Chinese brands are already moving towards similar “anti-peeping” screen technology, ready for later this year. As such, this looks to be the next big thing in smartphone display technology, and it’s not a surprise to see Samsung at the forefront. The South Korean tech giant often pushes display technology – from smartphones to TVs and gaming monitors – and this is obvious with the release of the Galaxy Z TriFold last month.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.