Samsung's new privacy screen can dynamically adjust viewing angles

Samsung Flex Magic Pixel preview
(Image credit: Samsung)

Picture the scene: you're out in public, logging into a banking app, entering your pin or password when you notice someone a little too close by looking over your shoulder. Wouldn't it be great if your phone could shield private/sensitive on-screen information from prying eyes?

That's exactly the kind of tech that Samsung may have in store for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Currently called "a new layer of privacy", the feature appears to dynamically restrict a phone screen's viewing angles, preventing so-called 'shoulder surfers' from spying on your phone's content.

But what's particularly special about the feature is that it's said to be customisable. You can control the level of privacy protection you want, including whether to shield specific screen elements, such as notification pop-ups. Apparently this is the culmination of over five years of development, but the result is "a fusion of hardware and software expertly calibrated to protect you without getting in your way".

[MWC 2024] 나는 보이지만 상대방은 안 보인다? 프라이버시 지켜주는 마법 같은 디스플레이의 등장✨ - YouTube [MWC 2024] 나는 보이지만 상대방은 안 보인다? 프라이버시 지켜주는 마법 같은 디스플레이의 등장✨ - YouTube
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At the moment Samsung has only issued a short press release to state that this 'privacy screen' feature is coming soon. This would presumably mean it'll be debuting with the S26 Ultra, as the technology likely relies on Samsung's upcoming Flex Magic Pixel OLED display, which is expected to be exclusive to the next flagship Galaxy phone.

Reports suggest that Samsung will reveal the Galaxy S26 Ultra at its next Galaxy Unpacked event, rumored to take place on February 25th.

Ben Andrews

Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, responsible for all the testing on Digital Camera World and across the entire photography portfolio at Future. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or even the latest camera phones, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. He's also the team's man-at-arms when it comes to camera bags, filters, memory cards, and all manner of camera accessories – his lab is a bit like the Batcave of photography! With years of experience trialling and testing kit, he's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys. 

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