Smartphone users have had to rely on privacy screen protectors to hide their phone activity from onlookers in public and private spaces. This should change with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, which is now confirmed to bring this feature built into the smartphone for the first time ever.
Samsung has announced that it will soon introduce what it calls “a new layer of privacy” designed to protect users from shoulder surfing in public spaces.
In an official press release issued today, Samsung said the upcoming feature will allow users to check messages or enter passwords in places such as public transport without worrying about people nearby viewing their screens. The description closely matches long-rumored reports about a built-in privacy screen feature expected to debut on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Customizable, System-Level Privacy Controls
According to Samsung, the new privacy feature will be highly customizable. Users will be able to enable it for specific apps or limit its use to sensitive actions, such as entering passwords or accessing private sections of the phone.
Samsung also said users can protect only selected parts of the interface, including notification pop-ups, rather than applying the privacy effect across the entire display. The company described the system as a “tailored approach,” allowing users to fine-tune or disable the feature entirely when it is not needed.
Unlike traditional privacy screen protectors that rely on physical filters and limit viewing angles at all times, Samsung’s solution is built directly into the display, according to prior leaks. This approach allows the privacy effect to be applied selectively, instead of acting as a permanent on-or-off layer over the screen.
This means you should be able to maintain your phone’s regular viewing angles even with the privacy feature enabled, which is not possible with privacy screen protectors.
Samsung said the technology has been in development for more than five years, involving extensive engineering, testing, and refinement. While the company did not name specific devices in the announcement, the timing strongly suggests the feature will appear on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Samsung said additional details will be shared closer to launch.
