Gadgets

Privacy Display Technology Spreading to More Smartphones: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Leads the Way

Published

3 months ago

February 25, 2026

BTI Team

Summary generated by Smart Answers AI

In brief:

Tech Advisor mentions that Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra is set to introduce a Privacy Display feature that will prevent shoulder-surfing by utilizing OLED pixels to emit light directionally.

Chinese smartphone manufacturers are reportedly experimenting with similar “spy screen” technology, with flagship devices from Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo expected to incorporate similar features by September.

There is speculation that Samsung might only have a six-month exclusivity period before this privacy technology becomes widespread among premium smartphones.

Chinese smartphone makers may soon replicate the most intriguing aspect of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Samsung is hosting a major Unpacked event on February 25th, where the Samsung Galaxy S26 series will be unveiled.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is anticipated to be the standout device in the lineup, primarily due to its highly publicized Privacy Display feature. This feature will safeguard sensitive content from prying eyes, ensuring that passwords and private information remain secure.

However, rumors suggest that this exclusive feature may not remain exclusive for long, as indicated by a recent Weibo post from Digital Chat Station.

Exclusive!

The privacy screen on the Samsung S26 Ultra goes far beyond a global privacy mode. It also supports partial, localized privacy control.

Here is how it works.

You can apply privacy protection to only a specific part of the screen, for example a message notification… pic.twitter.com/RWJPtR0qc8

— Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) January 28, 2026

Potential competitors in privacy screen technology

Samsung is expected to have a six-month advantage, but it is likely that Xiaomi 18, Oppo Find X10, Vivo X500, and possibly the OnePlus 16 Pro could introduce their own version of the Privacy Display feature.

According to reports from Samsung and industry insiders, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display will obscure specific screen elements from view, allowing only the device owner to see them. Users will have the ability to customize which apps and notifications are protected by this feature.

This technology is believed to be based on a unique hardware component that enables individual OLED pixels to emit light in a specific direction, resulting in a black appearance when viewed from other angles.

The anticipation surrounding Samsung’s innovation is high, and there is a desire to see this feature become standard across smartphones, provided that it functions as promised.