Samsung acknowledges Galaxy S26 Ultra display brightness variationIt’s a product of the new Privacy Display featureIt’s unlikely to impact the user experience
Is the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra display slightly dimmer because of the new Privacy display technology? The short answer is yes. However, I just received the more considered answer from Samsung, and it definitely sheds some light on the display brightness controversy.
Last week, I reported how, based on both benchmarks and my own tests, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 6.9-inch display does, when viewed at an angle, appear slightly less bright than the Galaxy S25 Ultra screen.
These tests confirmed findings of both other tech publications and our own Future Labs test results, which found slight variations in nits and color density, both of which favored the S25 Ultra.
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(Image credit: Future)
When I wrote the story I asked Samsung for comment. It didn’t respond prior to publication, but it’s now provided me with an official statement which reads as follows:
“Privacy Display is designed to protect user’s privacy by providing a vivid visual experience for using the phone in normal use cases. Some variation will be seen when the phone is held at certain angles and when set to maximum brightness, however, any impact on actual usage when holding the phone should be negligible.”
It’s real
Let’s start with the obvious. Samsung is not denying that “some variation” will be seen, and it’s implicit in their statement that Privacy display (pixel-level tech that hides your screen from prying eyes viewing it from off angles) is to blame. Of course, the caveats are that the phone must be “held at certain angles” and that it’s also necessary to set it to maximum brightness.
I tend to agree with Samsung’s assessment, though, that the impact of these variations is negligible. I never noticed it during my initial testing. To test the theory, I had to put it alongside the S25 Ultra, make sure the brightness settings on the S26 Ultra and the older phone matched, and then view them from an angle to really see the brightness difference.
Also, when I lowered the brightness as Samsung instructed, I did indeed notice less of a variation.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra on the left and the Galaxy S26 Ultra on the right. Brightness set to less than half. At this level, the S26 Ultra might be brighter. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)
Is this the end of ‘PrivacyDisplayGate’? Probably. While there were some on Reddit who reported nausea and eyestrain from using Privacy Display, I’ve experienced none of that, and that’s despite spending hours at a time using the flagship phone.
Ultimately, Privacy Display is one of the reasons I loved this phone, calling it in my review, “a true bit of display hardware innovation that has no equivalent on any other modern smartphone.” Even if it does shave the tiniest bit of brightness off the display, I think it’s worth it, and I stand by my assessment of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Do you own a Galaxy S26 Ultra? What’s your experience been like? Tell us in the comments below.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: The best Android ever… but should you upgrade? – YouTube
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