Samsung shows off Privacy Display tech that could make the Galaxy S27 even better (Updated: Clarification)

Replace: March 4, 2026 (7:58 AM ET): Samsung Show has reached out to Android Authority to make clear that a number of the info offered to us throughout our tour of the corporate’s sales space at MWC was inaccurate.

Samsung Show now maintains that the shows that have been demonstrating partial privateness should not next-generation Privateness Shows. Whereas that specific tech could also be below improvement, it’s nonetheless achievable on the corporate’s current-generation Flex Magic Pixel shows. That is the complete assertion offered to us by the corporate:

“No new {hardware} is required to allow the assorted partial privateness show modes demonstrated with Flex Magic Pixel (FMP). These capabilities are already achievable with the present FMP expertise. Due to this fact, it might not be correct to explain the expertise proven on the sales space as a next-generation Privateness Show. We aren’t demonstrating a next-generation model of FMP.”

Authentic article: March 3, 2026 (10:49 AM ET): It’s not too usually anymore that we see a brand new smartphone do one thing that actually feels novel, however we’ve obtained at hand it to Samsung for bringing us simply that with the Privateness Show on its Galaxy S26 Extremely. The software-switchable privateness filter is the form of function we by no means even realized we wanted, defending delicate info on our display screen from prying eyes. And as spectacular as this preliminary effort is, this 12 months at MWC in Barcelona, we’re already trying out a number of the ways in which Privateness Show will get even higher sooner or later.

Privateness Show works as a result of Samsung gave the Galaxy S26 Extremely a display screen constructed with two distinct varieties of subpixels: these with slim viewing angles, which can be solely seen from straight forward; and people with vast viewing angles, which can be seen from the aspect, as properly. In regular operation, each varieties of subpixels are energetic, however when Privateness Show is engaged, the vast ones flip off, limiting who can see the display screen.

With the Galaxy S26 Extremely, Samsung offers us two fundamental methods to make use of Privateness Show. We are able to simply flip all of it the way in which on, activating it throughout the complete display screen, or deploy it conditionally. Right here, Samsung prompts the Privateness Show solely after we’re in a particular app, viewing a notification, or getting into our PIN/password.

These are all completely smart makes use of for Privateness Show, however in case you take a second to cease and give it some thought, we wager you possibly can provide you with loads of extra ones — when else would possibly you wish to cover what’s happening in your display screen? Perhaps everytime you’re getting into textual content with the on-screen keyboard? Seems, Samsung Show is method forward of you, and at MWC the corporate is already displaying off some prospects from a next-gen Privateness Show.

Along with what’s at the moment attainable on the Privateness Show on the Galaxy S26 Extremely, Samsung Show can also be growing expertise that enables selective safety of particular areas of the display screen. That’s principally the identical trick the Galaxy S26 Extremely can already do with Privateness Show in your notifications, solely right here impacting a lot bigger display screen areas. We’re unsure precisely what’s limiting the Galaxy S26 Extremely from doing the identical, however Samsung Show informed us that is achieved by way of newer {hardware} and never one thing that may be launched within the S26 Extremely’s present Privateness Show by way of a software program replace.

Samsung Show just isn’t sharing any specifics proper now, however an organization exec hinted that we’d see this next-gen Privateness Show on a next-gen Galaxy handset. We might not maintain our breath about seeing Privateness Show already being tailored for this 12 months’s upcoming foldables, however so far as the S27 collection goes — properly, with a bit of luck, we is perhaps getting some respectable Privateness Show upgrades subsequent 12 months!