I used the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Samsung’s new display feature has a catch

Samsung has had a rough week. Early complaints about the Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26 Ultra raised concerns among potential buyers.

Things got worse when Samsung had to clarify that the phone uses an 8-bit display rather than the 10-bit display previously touted in product briefings.

I wanted to reserve judgment on the Privacy Display until I got my hands on my unit, and there is reason for concern. It’s not a total disaster, and you may decide the benefits outweigh the costs.

However, Samsung’s difficult week and the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s screen issues may sway your buying decision. After using the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy S25 Ultra side by side, I can see why buyers are nervous.

The Privacy Display isn’t as amazing as I expected

Not everything was obscured

I started playing with the Privacy Display settings the moment I finished setting up my Galaxy S26 Ultra. The technology sounds impressive, and I was curious to see how it performed in real-world testing. What I got was a bit of a surprise.

When turned on, the Privacy Display feature makes the screen noticeably dimmer. It’s almost as if the phone is dimming before the screen times out, and I didn’t enjoy it.

You may not mind a muted display, especially if you place a high value on privacy. However, it’s not a set-it-and-forget-it feature that I’ll leave on all the time.

Thankfully, Samsung lets me choose which apps get the privacy feature. I decided to use it on WhatsApp so the group chat’s sacred secrets can be protected.

On the standard privacy setting, I could still read text from the side, at a fairly steep angle. It’s not perfectly clear, but I could make it out. I needed to turn on the maximum setting for the Privacy Display, and then I couldn’t read anything.

So if you’re using the Privacy Display to protect passwords and banking information, make sure to enable maximum privacy.

Overall, display quality has changed

Turns out the pixels make a difference

I’m not going to trash the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s display. It’s still a beautiful panel, with vibrant colors. However, I have noticed that the hues are slightly muted compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

It’s perfectly possible this is by design, as Samsung has made pushes before into more natural tones. I have both vividness sliders set to max, and I notice a more saturated look on the S25 Ultra.

You might be totally fine with that, and in a vacuum (without the two sitting next to each other), you probably won’t notice. It’s not something that would sway my buying decision, especially if it’s intentional on Samsung’s part.

However, if it’s due to the privacy features, you’ll need to decide whether it’s better to upgrade to a Galaxy S26 Ultra or maybe stick with your older Galaxy a bit longer.

I’m talking in the margins, though, and you really have to nitpick to see the difference. It wouldn’t keep me from buying a Galaxy S26 Ultra.

The viewing angles are also different between the two phones. Even with the Privacy Display off, the Galaxy S26 Ultra dims at an angle, where the Galaxy S25 Ultra remains vibrant.

Some users who are sensitive to PWM flicker report headaches after extended use of the Galaxy S26 Ultra. This is all anecdotal. However, if you’re sensitive to display flicker, you may want to spend time with a Galaxy S26 Ultra in a store before buying.

Samsung can’t decide if it’s 8-bit or 10-bit

Plenty of display confusion

The display color depth issue is a bizarre own-goal for a company like Samsung. In briefings, company representatives claimed that all three new Galaxy S26 devices featured 10-bit displays.

In reality, it’s only an 8-bit display, with software simulating a 10-bit experience that reduces banding and other issues. I can’t testify to any of that, as my eyes aren’t sensitive enough.

I also don’t think Samsung did it intentionally, but it does pull back the curtain on how things happen in large corporations. There are so many people and departments involved that things like this get lost.

Still, it’s not an excuse, and some people pre-ordered a Galaxy S26 Ultra thinking it had a true 10-bit panel. Samsung’s going to have to make that right.

Most won’t notice a difference and will accept it as a beautiful display. But if you need a certain color depth for work, or you are an enthusiast who wants it, you bought the phone under false pretenses.

It’s not a bad display by any means, but Samsung has some cleanup to do

Samsung took a few knocks this week, and they were deserved.

I don’t think the Privacy Display is a reason not to buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but it definitely needs some tweaking. That’s to be expected with a new feature, and because some of it is software-controlled, updates can help.

As for the 8-bit panel, it’s a binary issue. Either you’re someone who focuses on that, and you were counting on it, or you’re someone who will never notice.

Samsung has things to answer for this week and will need to make things right, but don’t let anyone tell you the Galaxy S26 Ultra doesn’t have a gorgeous display despite it all.

SoC

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

RAM

12GB / 16GB

Storage

256GB / 512GB / 1TB

Battery

5,000mAh

Operating System

Android 16 / OneUI 8.5

Front camera

12MP

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a world-first new feature called the Privacy Display, which hides the phone screen from prying eyes. The phone is lighter, thinner, and more powerful than its predecessor.