Two display features that will supercharge the Galaxy S26 Ultra viewing experience

Samsung already makes some of the best smartphone displays around. At this point, big jumps in resolution or refresh rate don’t matter as much as how the screen behaves in real life. And two rumored and expected features on the Galaxy S26 Ultra will make Samsung's next Ultra flagship stand out.

The more interesting of the two is Privacy Display. Based on leaks from third-parties and Samsung itself, this feature will make the screen harder to see from the sides while keeping it clear when you’re looking straight at it. Think of it as a built-in privacy screen, but without the downsides of a screen protector that dulls colors or reduces brightness.

This is a feature that makes sense in everyday use. We use our phones in public all the time, and sensitive information is often right there on the screen. With Privacy Display, Samsung could let users quickly turn on extra privacy or even have it activate automatically for certain apps like banking or messaging. It’s a small change, but one that could make a big difference in the user experience.

The second feature, Gorilla Armor glass, isn’t new, but it’s still important. Samsung introduced it with the Galaxy S24 Ultra and kept it on the S25 Ultra, so it will almost certainly return on the S26 Ultra. This glass is tougher than previous versions, which means better protection against scratches and drops.

But the best part about it is that it massively cuts down on reflections. That makes the display easier to read outdoors and under bright lights (it also means you can't use the screen as a mirror, but you can always turn on the camera to do that). Samsung never marketed Gorilla Armor as much as it should have. But it's one of those features that improves the viewing experience every single day.

Ideally, this is a feature Samsung would bring to more models. Apple equipped all iPhone 17 models with anti-reflective displays, not just the Pro and Pro Max, and we wish Samsung would take a similar approach. However, for now, there’s nothing to suggest Gorilla Glass Armor will move beyond the Ultra with the Galaxy S26 lineup.

Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S26 lineup in the latter half of February, likely on the 25th.