Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Impresses with Privacy Display and Camera Upgrades

The latest flagship phone from Samsung offers enhanced privacy and photography features.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has become a favorite for tech reviewer Abrar Al-Heeti, particularly due to its new Privacy Display setting. This built-in hardware feature allows users to selectively black out their screen to prevent prying eyes from seeing the content. The phone also boasts camera upgrades like Horizontal Lock and Photo Assist, which help capture steady footage and edit photos using voice commands. While the $1,300 price tag remains the same as last year's model, the S26 Ultra packs a slimmer, lighter design and other improvements over the previous generation.

Why it matters

The Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display setting addresses growing privacy concerns, giving users more control over who can see their screen content. This feature could be especially useful in public settings like flights or crowded areas. The camera upgrades also demonstrate Samsung's commitment to improving the photography capabilities of its flagship phones, catering to users who value high-quality images and videos.

The details

The Galaxy S26 Ultra features a 200-megapixel wide-angle camera, 50-megapixel ultrawide-angle, 10-megapixel 3x telephoto, and 50-megapixel 5x telephoto lens on the back, along with a 12-megapixel selfie camera. The Horizontal Lock feature keeps footage steady even when the phone is tilted or rotated, while Photo Assist allows users to edit photos using voice commands. The phone also has a slightly slimmer and lighter design compared to the previous generation, measuring 7.9mm thick and weighing 214 grams.

  • The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra was unveiled in February 2026.

The players

Samsung

A multinational electronics company and the manufacturer of the Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone.

Abrar Al-Heeti

A tech reviewer who has been testing the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra in Barcelona.

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What they’re saying

“Privacy Display is one of a handful of features that help the S26 Ultra feel like a notable step up over last year's Galaxy S25 Ultra.”

— Abrar Al-Heeti, Tech Reviewer (CNET)

What’s next

Abrar Al-Heeti plans to further test the Galaxy S26 Ultra's battery life and other features once he returns to his home country and can use the phone in a more typical daily setting.

The takeaway

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra offers a compelling combination of enhanced privacy features, improved camera capabilities, and a refined design, making it a standout flagship smartphone in 2026.