GoKawiilZac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority
I’ve always loved Samsung’s displays. I used Samsung phones exclusively for a long time — almost six years — and the screen was always one of the best parts of the experience. Last year I switched to a Pixel 10 Pro, and recently my wife bought a Galaxy S26 Ultra, and after seeing them side by side, I couldn’t live with the S26 Ultra’s display.
Are you satisfied with the Galaxy S26 Ultra's display? 74 votes Yes 34 % No 20 % I haven't used one 46 %
Brightness is lacking
Zac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority
When I took my 10 Pro and the S26 Ultra outside to photograph them together, I noticed how much brighter the Pixel is. The difference doesn’t look as dramatic through a camera lens as it does in person, but believe me when I say the difference in person is staggering. For a long time I assumed that display brightness was an exercise in diminishing returns. That once you got about 1,500-2,000 nits, you wouldn’t notice any meaningful difference. I was wrong.
The extra brightness helped frame up shots and actually see what I was taking a picture of.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra reaches a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, while my Pixel 10 Pro is capable of 3,300 nits. That 700 nits is enough of a difference that during our recent holiday, during which we had an unusual amount of sunshine for the UK, my Pixel was easier to use, especially when taking photos. The extra brightness helped frame up shots and actually see what I was taking a picture of.
I wondered if the issue was the Privacy Display, seeing as it has reduced viewing angles even when the feature is turned off. I am not convinced that’s the issue. The Z Fold 7 I had with me, which has the same 2,600-nit peak brightness for its cover display, was just as difficult to see. The Privacy Display isn’t without its problems, though.
Privacy Display hurts my eyes
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