The headline feature of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the new privacy display mode, implemented at the system level by switching off pixels in certain areas of the display when enabled. You can turn the mode on in the display settings or through the quick settings menu, so it’s easy to access and incredibly simple to use.
Where it gets smarter, however, is the ability to set parameters for the privacy mode to switch on for specific apps, notification pop-ups, or whenever you enter your passcode, pattern or pin. This means you can enjoy the bright, vibrant 6.9-inch AMOLED display as normal until one of the conditions you’ve set is met.
As an example, if you add WhatsApp as one of the apps, when you receive a message, the notification on the screen will be visible to you, but not to the person next to you, with the pixels switching themselves off to reduce the viewing angles. It looks like a big, redacted black rectangle to any passers-by.
There’s also a maximum protection mode within this privacy feature, which further dims the pixels to make your screen even harder for nosy train carriage neighbours to see what’s being displayed. I wouldn’t turn this on permanently unless I was doing something particularly sensitive, as it makes the display look much duller, but it’s nice to have the option.
The cameras work better in the dark
