Forget external privacy screen protectors that protect sensitive information on your phone screen from prying eyes. Samsung is working on a revolutionary technology that will embed this functionality directly into the device. The “Privacy Display” feature, discovered in the One UI 8.5 code, offers a layer of security that can be enabled or disabled at any time, without the need for a third-party accessory. Here are the details.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra could be coming in the One UI 8.5 update
Described in the One UI 8.5 code as “limiting screen visibility from side angles to protect your privacy in public places,” this feature offers users flexible control mechanisms.
Here are the expected settings:
- Auto Privacy: With this toggle in the settings, your phone will automatically detect when it’s in crowded public places, such as public transportation or elevators, and activate Privacy Screen.
- Schedule and App-Based Protection: Users can turn the feature on and off according to a specific schedule or have the protection only activate when certain apps are opened.
- Partial Dimming: Leaks suggest that this feature may only obscure a portion of the screen (for example, a pop-up notification or picture-in-picture window).
- Maximum Privacy: The “Maximum Privacy” option in Settings will reduce the screen brightness while Privacy Display is active, making it more difficult for bystanders to see the content.
Privacy Display is also reportedly capable of protecting protected images in the Gallery and screen lock options such as PIN, password, or pattern input interfaces. This software-based feature will apparently require specialized hardware support to function properly. According to leakers, this revolutionary display technology will likely launch with the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
The technology is believed to be “Flex Magic Pixel,” a technology developed by Samsung Display that uses artificial intelligence to control the viewing angle of OLED pixels. This technology prevents sensitive information from being seen by those viewing it from the side while maintaining the brightness and quality of the screen.
Given Samsung’s history of saving its fancy display technologies for its top-tier Ultra, it’s unlikely that the other models in the Galaxy S26 series (the S26 and S26 Pro) will feature this innovative Privacy Display feature. This means that even if they receive the One UI 8.5 update, older Samsung models aren’t expected to receive the feature.
So, what are your thoughts on this? Share them in the comments.
