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 Display has reached out to Android Authority to make clear that a few of the info offered to us throughout our tour of the firm’s sales space at MWC was inaccurate.

Samsung Display now maintains that the shows that have been demonstrating partial privateness should not next-generation Privacy Shows. Whereas that specific tech could also be beneath growth, it’s nonetheless achievable on the firm’s current-generation Flex Magic Pixel shows. That is the full assertion offered to us by the firm:

“No new {hardware} is required to allow the varied partial privateness show modes demonstrated with Flex Magic Pixel (FMP). These capabilities are already achievable with the present FMP expertise. Subsequently, it will not be correct to explain the expertise proven at the sales space as a next-generation Privacy Display. We’re not demonstrating a next-generation model of FMP.”

Unique article: March 3, 2026 (10:49 AM ET): It’s not too typically anymore that we see a brand new smartphone do one thing that really feels novel, however we’ve bought handy it to Samsung for bringing us simply that with the Privacy Display 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 few of the methods that Privacy Display will get even better in the future.

Privacy Display works as a result of Samsung gave the Galaxy S26 Extremely a display screen constructed with two distinct sorts of subpixels: these with slim viewing angles, that are solely seen from straight forward; and people with extensive viewing angles, that are seen from the facet, as properly. In regular operation, each sorts of subpixels are energetic, however when Privacy Display is engaged, the extensive ones flip off, limiting who can see the display screen.

With the Galaxy S26 Extremely, Samsung offers us two important methods to make use of Privacy Display. We are able to simply flip all of it the method on, activating it throughout the complete display screen, or deploy it conditionally. Right here, Samsung prompts the Privacy Display solely once we’re in a selected app, viewing a notification, or coming into our PIN/password.

These are all completely smart makes use of for Privacy Display, however should you take a second to cease and give it some thought, we guess you could give you loads of further ones — when else would possibly you need to cover what’s occurring in your display screen? Perhaps everytime you’re coming into textual content with the on-screen keyboard? Seems, Samsung Display is method forward of you, and at MWC the firm is already exhibiting off some prospects from a next-gen Privacy Display.

Along with what’s at the moment doable on the Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26 Extremely, Samsung Display can also be growing expertise that permits selective safety of particular areas of the display screen. That’s mainly the similar trick the Galaxy S26 Extremely can already do with Privacy Display 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 similar, however Samsung Display informed us that is achieved by way of newer {hardware} and never one thing that may be launched in the S26 Extremely’s current Privacy Display by way of a software program replace.

Samsung Display is just not sharing any specifics proper now, however an organization exec hinted that we would see this next-gen Privacy Display on a next-gen Galaxy handset. We could not maintain our breath about seeing Privacy Display already being tailored for this 12 months’s upcoming foldables, however so far as the S27 collection goes — properly, hopefully, we is likely to be getting some respectable Privacy Display upgrades subsequent 12 months!