Having a privacy screen protector always struck me as a rather paranoid measure, but the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has changed my thinking.
Over the last couple of days, the S26 Ultra’s new Privacy Display setting has quickly become one of my favorite features because of 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 like your banking account or email. It works whether you’re holding your phone vertically or horizontally.
You can also set Privacy Display just for pop-up notifications, so only that part of your screen is 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. (There’s no need to be secretive all the time, in my humble opinion.)
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 could essentially prevent people from engaging in the same secondhand 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 during an 8-hour flight.)
Privacy Display is one of a handful of features that help the S26 Ultra feel like a notable step up over last year’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. This year’s model has a slightly slimmer, lighter build, measuring 7.9mm thick and weighing 214 grams (versus last year’s 8.2mm and 218 grams). It’s a minor trim that nonetheless helps the phone feel less hefty and more comfortable to hold. Other upgrades, including faster charging, new camera capabilities and more seamless AI integrations, help the S26 Ultra stand out from older versions. Thankfully, the S26 Ultra maintains a $1,300 price — a relief amid a RAM shortage that’s hiking costs in the phone and laptop markets. The base S26 and S26 Plus each got a $100 price increase.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 200-megapixel wide-angle, a 50-megapixel ultrawide-angle, a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto and a 50-megapixel 5x telephoto lens.
Testing the S26 Ultra’s camera around Barcelona
I’ve been snapping photos with the S26 Ultra as I explore the ancient alleyways and colorful architecture of Barcelona, and so far it’s certainly done the city justice.
The S26 Ultra packs the same camera specs as last year: a 200-megapixel wide-angle, a 50-megapixel ultrawide-angle, a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto and a 50-megapixel 5x telephoto lens on the back, along with a 12-megapixel selfie camera. Many of the improvements come in the form of software and AI upgrades, most notably Horizontal Lock and Photo Assist. Horizontal Lock lets you tilt and twist your phone as much as you want while keeping the horizon steady. I could rotate the S26 Ultra completely, and the footage I captured still came out level.
I tried this while walking up the many inclines at Park Güell, and even as I exaggerated my arm’s movement, I still got fairly steady footage, minus some minor movement. I even turned the camera 180 degrees when recording, but the footage wasn’t flipped in the final video. It’s still mind-blowing to witness, days into using this phone. Horizontal Lock is also available on the baseline S26 and S26 Plus.
Photo Assist is baked into the Gallery app, and lets you alter whatever you want in a photo using natural-language voice prompts. I decided I needed to break the social media rule of “camera eats first” and took a bite of a burrito I bought at La Boqueria Market. Then I used Photo Assist to “fill in burrito,” and suddenly it was whole again, replacing the missing bite I’d taken. This is a neat feature, but not one I realistically plan on using daily. I’m not one for creating or sharing AI-generated photos, but observing the tech on its own, it’s impressive what Photo Assist can manage. This AI feature is also available across the S26 lineup.
Here are some of my favorite photos I’ve taken on the S26 Ultra so far.
I’m in love with how vibrant all of these colors are, and how crisp this portrait shot is.
What better way to see how colors show up on the S26 Ultra than a visit to the Sagrada Familia?
This low-light photo turned out nice and clear, and the colors in the mocktail still pop.
Even when punching in at 10x zoom, the details in this mosaic remain sharp.
Selfies are designed to better capture natural skin tones and textures in a variety of lighting.
What I look forward to testing next
Since I’m traveling internationally and using data roaming, I haven’t been able to really test the S26 Ultra’s battery in an everyday setting. The Ultra maintains last year’s 5,000-mAh capacity, but upgrading to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor’s efficiency and a redesigned vapor chamber should help the phone power through longer. With improved 60-watt charging, Samsung says the battery can go from 0% to 75% in half an hour. I look forward to putting all this to the test once I’m back on home turf.
For now, though, it’s all about snapping photos of tapas and carrying on with my newly minted Privacy Display covert persona.