Having a privacy screen protector always struck me as a rather paranoid measure, but the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has changed my thinking.
Over the last couple of days, the S26 Ultra's new Privacy Display setting has quickly become one of my favorite features because of its practicality and ingenuity. With the setting enabled, anyone looking over your shoulder won't be able to see what's on your screen. Crucially, unlike a $10 screen protector you can buy online, this built-in hardware feature is customizable, so you can turn it on for certain apps like your banking account or email. It works whether you're holding your phone vertically or horizontally.
You can also set Privacy Display just for pop-up notifications, so only that part of your screen is blacked out for anyone snooping. That flexibility makes for a more pragmatic approach, rather than the all-or-nothing privacy screen protectors you can slap on any phone. (There's no need to be secretive all the time, in my humble opinion.)
I was especially grateful for the Privacy Display setting on my flight to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. As I wrestled with this article in the Notes app, I didn't have to worry about anyone watching me comb through half-formed thoughts. I browsed through my Gallery without feeling like I was putting on a presentation for any bored onlookers. I could essentially prevent people from engaging in the same secondhand entertainment I was indulging in as I glanced at the movies playing on the seatback displays around me. (There's only so much to look at during an 8-hour flight.)
Privacy Display is one of a handful of features that help the S26 Ultra feel like a notable step up over last year's Galaxy S25 Ultra. This year's model has a slightly slimmer, lighter build, measuring 7.9mm thick and weighing 214 grams (versus last year's 8.2mm and 218 grams). It's a minor trim that nonetheless helps the phone feel less hefty and more comfortable to hold. Other upgrades, including faster charging, new camera capabilities and more seamless AI integrations, help the S26 Ultra stand out from older versions. Thankfully, the S26 Ultra maintains a $1,300 price -- a relief amid a RAM shortage that's hiking costs in the phone and laptop markets. The base S26 and S26 Plus each got a $100 price increase.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 200-megapixel wide-angle, a 50-megapixel ultrawide-angle, a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto and a 50-megapixel 5x telephoto lens. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Testing the S26 Ultra's camera around Barcelona
I've been snapping photos with the S26 Ultra as I explore the ancient alleyways and colorful architecture of Barcelona, and so far it's certainly done the city justice.
The S26 Ultra packs the same camera specs as last year: a 200-megapixel wide-angle, a 50-megapixel ultrawide-angle, a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto and a 50-megapixel 5x telephoto lens on the back, along with a 12-megapixel selfie camera. Many of the improvements come in the form of software and AI upgrades, most notably Horizontal Lock and Photo Assist. Horizontal Lock lets you tilt and twist your phone as much as you want while keeping the horizon steady. I could rotate the S26 Ultra completely, and the footage I captured still came out level.
I tried this while walking up the many inclines at Park Güell, and even as I exaggerated my arm's movement, I still got fairly steady footage, minus some minor movement. I even turned the camera 180 degrees when recording, but the footage wasn't flipped in the final video. It's still mind-blowing to witness, days into using this phone. Horizontal Lock is also available on the baseline S26 and S26 Plus.
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