Samsung admits 'some variation' in Galaxy S26 Ultra's screen brightness due to Privacy Display — but it should be 'negligible' | Tech Radar

Overview

Samsung admits 'some variation' in Galaxy S26 Ultra's screen brightness due to Privacy Display — but it should be 'negligible'

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Details

Samsung acknowledges Galaxy S26 Ultra display brightness variation

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.

I just proved the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra screen is slightly dimmer than the S25 Ultra — but it doesn't make me love it any less

Samsung answers our 5 biggest questions about the Galaxy S26 Ultra's new Privacy Display

Users are complaining about the Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26 Ultra

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."

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 'Privacy Display Gate'? 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.

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A 38-year industry veteran and award-winning journalist, Lance has covered technology since PCs were the size of suitcases and “on line” meant “waiting.” He’s a former Lifewire Editor-in-Chief, Mashable Editor-in-Chief, and, before that, Editor in Chief of PCMag.com and Senior Vice President of Content for Ziff Davis, Inc. He also wrote a popular, weekly tech column for Medium called The Upgrade.

Lance Ulanoff makes frequent appearances on national, international, and local news programs including Live with Kelly and Mark, the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNBC, CNN, and the BBC.

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Key Takeaways

• Samsung admits 'some variation' in Galaxy S26 Ultra's screen brightness due to Privacy Display — but it should be 'negligible'

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

• Samsung acknowledges Galaxy S26 Ultra display brightness variation

• Is the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra display slightly dimmer because of the new Privacy display technology

• Last week, I reported how, based on both benchmarks and my own tests, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's 6