Galaxy S26 Ultra: Samsung confirms new privacy feature
Samsung has shown a first highlight feature for the Galaxy S26. It is intended to protect the screen content from prying eyes.
Samsung confirms a potential first main feature of the Galaxy S26.
(Image: Samsung)
Samsung is preparing to unveil the Galaxy S26 series, which according to various reports is expected around the end of February. The company is now announcing a new smartphone feature that has been rumored for some time: a kind of privacy layer to protect the screen content from prying eyes in public.
Integrated Privacy Screen
Samsung writes in its announcement: "Our smartphones are our private space, but we use them in public places: on the bus, in the elevator, in line, and thus our digital data is visible everywhere." To protect content from prying eyes, Samsung will "introduce something that protects users' Samsung Galaxy smartphones from prying eyes, no matter where they are," the company said in a statement. It allows users to read messages or enter passwords without worrying about someone looking over their shoulder.
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According to Samsung, users can turn the privacy function on or off as they wish. Settings can determine that only certain apps or the entry of access credentials for private areas of the smartphone are protected. Users can also protect certain functions such as pop-up notifications. According to the manufacturer, the settings can be "individually adapted to preferences" or deactivated.
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Likely only for the Galaxy S26 Ultra
According to the manufacturer, the development of this function took more than five years. Hardware and software functions work together, according to Samsung. This suggests that the function cannot simply be brought to older devices via a software update. Until now, protection from prying eyes was only possible with the help of special screen protectors – a function integrated into the device would make these superfluous, provided it works reliably.
Reportedly, this new function will not be available for all models of the Galaxy S26 series, but only for the most expensive Ultra model, according to rumors. It is also currently confirmed that Samsung will use its in-house Exynos 2600 processor, manufactured using a 2-nanometer process, for some of its S26 models. It is assumed that the upcoming Ultra model will use Qualcomm's current Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with a slightly higher clock speed and the "for Galaxy" suffix – at least that has been the case in the past.
On the software side, it is expected that the Galaxy S26 series will be the first with One UI 8.5. The software is currently being publicly tested in beta phase, including on the Galaxy S25. Nevertheless, the next S generation will be the first to receive the updated Android overlay ex works, with existing devices traditionally receiving the finished update later. On board is an enhanced AI assistant Bixby, which has been expanded with Perplexity.
(afl)
