Last updated: July 31st, 2026 at 15:27 UTC+02:00
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Not every missing feature is a mistake.
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When Samsung unveiled Privacy Display alongside the Galaxy S26 Ultra earlier this year, I immediately hoped the technology would make its way to the company's Galaxy Z8 foldable phones. So when Samsung confirmed that neither the Flip 8 nor the Galaxy Z Fold 8 or Fold 8 Ultra would get it, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
A week after Unpacked in London, I'm starting to think Samsung may have made the right call. In fact, I'm no longer convinced the company should rush to bring Privacy Display to the Z Fold series next year, either.
A recent report claims Samsung's Privacy Display costs around 10% more to manufacture than a conventional OLED panel. That may not sound like much, but on an already expensive foldable display, it can add up quickly.
We don't know how much Samsung's new foldable displays cost to produce, especially since the Z Fold 8 series hasn't even left the pre-order period as of this writing. But we do have a useful point of reference.
Last year, we learned that a Galaxy Z Fold 7 foldable display replacement without Samsung Care+ coverage would have cost around €761 / $890 — before labor costs and other fees. Manufacturing costs obviously aren't the same as repair/spare part prices, but they still illustrate just how expensive these displays already are.
It's only a rough estimate, but if Privacy Display really adds around 10% to manufacturing costs, it could have increased the price of the Z Fold 8 Ultra by roughly $80-$100 and made repairs more expensive, too.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is $100 pricier than last year's Fold 7. Adding another costly display technology on top of that might have pushed the price too far, beyond what many buyers would be willing to pay. These phones already cost a premium.
Hopefully, Samsung will eventually find a way to manufacture Privacy Display panels more efficiently. When that happens, maybe the technology will also be ready for foldables. Until then, I'm not nearly as bummed about this missing upgrade as I was at first.
First Samsung device: SGH-A800
Mihai is a blogger and column writer at SamMobile. His first Samsung phone was an A800 which took a lot of beating, and a part of him still misses the novelty of the clamshell design. In his free time, he enjoys watching shows, documentaries, and stand-up comedy; listening to music, taking walks, and occasionally playing old(er) video games.
