One UI is one of the best Android skins that we currently have, and it looks like the software is soon getting a new screen mode in a privacy-focused effort from Samsung for its upcoming flagship.
As unearthed within a pre-release One UI 8.5 build, cited references outline a “Private display” setting, which limits the off-axis viewing angle and can automatically trigger in sensitive scenarios — and that’s compelling proof the Galaxy S26 Ultra will bring hardware capable of actual, on-demand screen privacy to market.
What the code of One UI 8.5 reveals about privacy
Strings in the test firmware describe a feature that appears to be called “Private display” or possibly simply “Privacy display,” with accompanying text suggesting it will prevent bystanders from seeing what’s happening on screen side-on. Beyond the crude toggle, the code refers to “smart” automation of some kind: the mode can come on for “sensitive apps” and when you’re in a “crowded place,” suggesting there are context-aware triggers that will ensure users don’t have to wade into settings whenever they’re in a train carriage or coffee shop or hopping on a plane.
It seems like Samsung is also working on granting granular powers. Manual settings also cite levels of privacy protection, and a “maximum” option dials in to lower than the normal black level to darken images further. You can set custom conditions that tell the system which apps should always be in private mode and even schedule times at which you would like it turned on — kind of like modes or routines, but specifically for visual privacy.
The hardware that makes it work on OLED screens
Software alone can’t change viewing angles; the panel must be willing. That’s where Samsung Display’s rumored “Flex Magic Pixel” comes into play, with public disclosures of this tech promising AI-assisted control over which pixels emit light in order to make the screen look vivid and bright head-on while dimming fast as you move off-axis. Maybe think of it as a dynamic, per-pixel version of the privacy filters used on laptops — HP’s Sure View or 3M light-control films — only integrated into the OLED stack and potentially adjustable in software.
This would avoid the biggest trade-off of permanent privacy films: a constant hit to brightness and colors. Perhaps by activating the effect only when it’s required, Samsung could maintain full luminance and wide-viewing HDR for media and gaming, then narrow that viewing cone for banking apps, messaging, or work. That design fits neatly with the “maximum privacy” brightness hint found lurking in the code, implying Samsung will be happy to let users strike a balance between privacy and usability as needed.
Why a Private display mode matters for users
Visual eavesdropping — often referred to as “shoulder surfing” — is not theoretical. According to a widely publicized study by the Ponemon Institute, sponsored by 3M, nine out of ten experiment participants were able to successfully “visual hack” information in an office setting at least once in up to three consecutive attempts. We all fall into the same trap: There is no way to predict that passengers reading their email on the train, executives preparing slide presentations during a flight, and people checking a one-time passcode at any moment in life are all susceptible.
Enterprises have traditionally been dealing with this by way of external filters applied technically and through usage policies, but these are clumsy instruments on phones, hardly consistently applied. A hardware-based privacy mode baked into the screen — even better, one that can be run under device policy — could be a killer feature for some highly regulated sectors. If Samsung opens the APIs up or connects it to Knox and enterprise MDM tools, then IT admins could keep Private display enabled for certain apps or locations without users having to deal with it at all.
Why the S26 Ultra should be the launchpad
The firmware hints point toward functionality obviously reliant on new panel capabilities, so a top-end flagship is the obvious first port of call. The Ultra is where Samsung usually puts all of its next-gen display tech first, then filters it down: high-peak-brightness OLEDs over LTPO refresh scaling with advanced touch layers. Private display is likely to be billed as a signature S26 Ultra feature at launch, with other availability depending on cost and panel supply.
On the software front, automation hints for One UI 8.5 are said to be indicating deeper system-level integration. Geofencing, ambient sound detection, or on-device crowd estimation could be in use to determine “crowded places,” although Samsung is all but guaranteed to handle signals locally, and therefore more privately. The feature set sounds like it should cover most common use cases without turning the phone into a brick or over-diminishing the screen when privacy isn’t required.
Open questions and trade-offs to consider before launch
Three unknowns remain. The brightness point: Even a full-featured privacy layer can dim peak luminance and color accuracy when it’s activated. Second, we can’t really verify that this works with tempered-glass protectors or anti-glare films, either way. That stuff is going to change the way light diffuses and could dumb down some of that privacy. Third, accessibility: Smaller viewing angles might make it trickier for people who are dependent on off-axis viewing or screen magnifiers to use, emphasizing the importance of wise defaults.
Still, the direction is clear. With One UI 8.5 spelling out a feature set that can only be achieved through dedicated hardware, Samsung is laying the groundwork for a banner mobility capability within the Galaxy S26 Ultra. If the execution is good, Private display has the potential to be the most significant smartphone display innovation in years — not because it’s flashy, but because it’s practical where most of us use our phones: out in the open.