Samsung has recently unveiled a trio of new Galaxy S26 smartphones, one of which features a standout innovation that sets it apart from the iPhone. The S26 Ultra, boasting enhanced slimness and speed, now incorporates a Privacy Display function that safeguards on-screen content from prying eyes.
When activated in the device settings, the Privacy Display feature conceals content unless viewed directly, ensuring privacy from unwanted observers. This technology allows users to prevent unauthorized viewing of texts, movies, and notifications by adjusting settings to block specific apps or content.
Samsung described the Galaxy S26 Ultra as the first in the mobile industry to integrate a built-in Privacy Display, revolutionizing privacy protection on smartphones. By manipulating pixel light dispersion, the display maintains content clarity and brightness for users while limiting visibility to others.
In addition to the Privacy Display, the Ultra model boasts a slimmer design, prolonged battery life, and is powered by the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform from Qualcomm. The device also offers rapid charging capabilities, achieving a 75% charge in just 30 minutes.
The smartphone further enhances its camera features with an updated quad rear camera for improved night photography and enhanced video stabilization through upgraded Super Steady capabilities. Notably, the Ultra comes with an integrated S Pen for convenient note-taking on its 6.9-inch AMOLED screen.
Joining the Ultra variant are the standard S26 with a 6.3-inch screen and the larger 6.7-inch Plus version, both powered by Samsung’s Exynos chip and equipped with triple-lens rear cameras.
Samsung’s new smartphones receive significant smart feature upgrades with a Galaxy AI enhancement, promising a more seamless user experience. Features like Now Nudge provide relevant suggestions to users without causing distractions, such as automatically suggesting photos from the Gallery when prompted by a friend’s request for trip photos.
Moreover, the Galaxy S26 offers intuitive features like recognizing calendar entries related to received messages and backing Google Gemini for enhanced web search capabilities. While these updates enhance user experience, they come with an associated increase in pricing for this year’s models.
The UK pricing for the new Samsung Galaxy S26 range is as follows:
– S26: 256GB £879, 512GB £1,049
– S26 Plus: 256GB £1,099, 512GB £1,269
– S26 Ultra: 256GB £1,279, 512GB £1,449, 1TB (with 16GB RAM) £1,699
All models are set to be available in stores starting next month.