Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could get an ingenious display privacy upgrade

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

We could see the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra gain a new display designed specifically for privacy, based on Samsung’s latest manufacturing activities.

A report from Korean outlet DealSite claims that Samsung Display is now mass producing a new “Flex Magic Pixel” technology for OLED screens, after first showing it off back at MWC 2024.

While it’s been some time since this tech debuted, the start of mass production suggests Samsung will soon be putting it to use. And Samsung's upcoming flagship phones, such as the Galaxy S26 series and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 are the most likely candidates to use it first.

What's so magical about these pixels?

Instead of using a physical barrier, the screen can adjust the viewing angles of its screen on a per-pixel level with the help of AI.

Samsung's Flex Magic Pixel concept is meant to replace the third-party privacy glass layer that some people like to add to their phones. Instead of using a physical barrier, the screen can adjust the viewing angles of its screen on a per-pixel level with the help of AI. This results in the same effect as the privacy glass, helping to hide information you don't want shoulder-surfing passers-by to see.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra, like the Galaxy S24 Ultra before it, already offers a unique display feature in the form of an anti-reflective layer that helps tone down glare from bright lights. If Flex Magic Pixel does get added to the next-gen Galaxy S, then it'll compound its advantages over rival OLED screens using typical glass and pixels.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

And Magic Flex Pixel may not be the only big change we see to the Galaxy S26 series. The models that Samsung offers, and their names, may be shifting around, with the smallest model being renamed the Galaxy S26 Pro and the usual Plus model being switched for the Galaxy S26 Edge. The Galaxy S26 Ultra should stay as the top-tier device of the line-up, though.

All the S26 models should launch in January as usual, but we'll keep our ear to the ground for more specific rumors.

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Richard is based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, tablets, gaming, and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's also written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.

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