I've only had the Galaxy S26 Ultra for a couple of days and have already found its Privacy Display quite helpful. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Having a privacy screen protector always struck me as a paranoid measure, but the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has changed me. Over the last couple of days, the S26 Ultra's new Privacy Display setting has quickly become one of my favorite features, thanks to 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, such as your banking account or email. It works whether you're holding your phone vertically or horizontally.
You can also change the Privacy Display settings, so it only applies to pop-up notifications. This means only that part of your screen will be 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. I don't need to be secretive all the time.
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 prevented people from engaging in the same second-hand 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 on an 8-hour flight.)
Read my full story, My Favorite Galaxy S26 Ultra Feature Comes With a Side of Paranoia, to hear more about my first two days with the new Samsung phone.