It has been a quiet year for high-end Samsung fans in Kenya. After Samsung skipped the local market for the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, it has been a year since a new Samsung flagship officially landed on our shelves.
However, that “flagship drought” is expected to end with the upcoming Galaxy S26 series. As we gear up for a late February launch, Samsung has officially begun teasing a standout feature for the Galaxy S26 Ultra that could make privacy screen protectors obsolete: the “Privacy display.”
We have all been there, trying to read a sensitive message in a matatu or an elevator while sensing a pair of prying eyes over our shoulder. Traditionally, the solution has been buying a tinted privacy screen protector. But for me, I look back and even ask them if I should hand over my phone for a better view, and it always works magic.
According to new video teasers shared by Samsung (1, 2, 3), the Galaxy S26 Ultra will build this capability directly into the display hardware. Samsung describes the feature as a “fusion of hardware and software expertly calibrated to protect you without getting in your way.”
The company notes that this technology is the result of over five years of engineering and that it isn’t a blanket “all or nothing” feature. Instead of dimming the entire screen, which makes sharing photos or videos difficult, the S26 Ultra allows for a tailored approach.
Samsung explains:
"Not everyone needs the same level of privacy. This new layer gives you the choice to decide what works best for you. You can customize it to raise your guard with specific apps, or when entering access details for more private areas of your phone. With multiple settings for adjusting visibility, you can limit what others can see based on the level of privacy protection you need.
You can also choose to protect specific parts of your experience, such as notification pop-ups. It’s a tailored approach that you can fine-tune or switch off entirely, rather than a blanket one.
It took over five years of engineering, testing and refining to get here. We studied how people use their phones, what they consider private, and how security should feel in everyday life. The result is a fusion of hardware and software expertly calibrated to protect you without getting in your way."
Before Samsung could officially tease the feature, they accidentally confirmed it themselves last week.
In a blog post regarding updates to the Good Lock customization suite for the upcoming One UI 8.5, Samsung published screenshots showing off new features for LockStar and QuickStar. Keen-eyed observers noted a distinct “Privacy display” toggle sitting right in the Quick Settings panel.
While the Good Lock update brings other cool features, like customizable unlock animations and massive folder sizes via HomeUp, the confirmation of the privacy display hardware was the star of the show.
How Privacy display works on the Galaxy S26 Ultra
Thanks to renowned leaker Ice Universe, we now have a clear understanding of how this “smart” privacy works in the real world.
Unlike a physical screen protector that darkens the screen from all angles permanently, the S26 Ultra’s display can selectively darken specific UI elements based on your viewing angle.
As seen in the leaked images below, the implementation is impressive:
- Front view (user): When holding the phone directly in front of you, the notification is perfectly legible against the green wallpaper.
- Side view (onlooker): When viewed from an angle, the specific area containing the notification turns completely black. The rest of the screen, including the wallpaper, app icons, and widgets, remains visible.
The notification area blacks out from the side while remaining visible from the front
This localized control means you can have a private conversation or input a password without rendering the rest of your beautiful AMOLED screen useless.
While this technology sounds incredible, it appears it will come with a premium. Reports indicate the “Privacy display” will be exclusive to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, skipping the standard S26 and S26 Plus models. This is a genuinely practical privacy feature that dramatically improves the phone’s real-world usability, so hopefully Samsung expands availability to more devices.
The Galaxy S26 series is expected to launch globally in late February 2026.
From matatu commutes and crowded CBD queues to shared offices and open co-working spaces, phone use in public is a daily reality. When Samsung brings the Galaxy S26 series to Kenya, the Ultra’s Privacy display could end up being one of those rare flagship features that isn’t just flashy on stage, but genuinely useful in everyday Kenyan life.
