The threat of screen-snoopers reading over your shoulder may finally a thing of the past, as Samsung unveils a new phone with a built-in 'Privacy Display'.
The newly released Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra blurs your screen when seen from the side, while keeping the display crystal clear for you.
Users can block out their entire screen from prying eyes or choose to hide only select information and apps.
For example, the Privacy Display can kick in when you are entering your PIN, password, or to hide key information like pop-up notifications.
The display works by incorporating a special type of pixel that only sends light straight outwards towards the user, blocking anyone peeping in from the side.
Unlike commonly available stick-on privacy filters, Samsung's integrated solution obscures the screen from all angles rather than just from the sides.
This means your private information can remain hidden, even when you are switching from portrait to landscape mode.
And according to the company, the in-built privacy display doesn't result in any further reductions in brightness, resolution, or battery life.
Samsung's new Galaxy S26 Ultra features a built-in privacy display that hides your screen when viewed from the side.
Once activated, anyone looking in from the side will not be able to see anything happening on your screen.
Samsung says that this is the first display of its kind to help fight against the rise of 'shoulder surfing' criminals.
Thwarted by phones' increasing security systems, phone thieves have taken to watching their victims in advance to record passwords and banking PINS.
This is either done using a camera with a long zoom lens or by simply following someone in public and peering over their shoulder.
The criminals then steal the phone and use the victim's information to log into banking services and bypass two-factor authentication services that send a text to the phone for confirmation.
Samsung claims this feature, which it says has been five years in development, should prevent anyone from snooping on your personal details.
Annika Bizon, VP of Product & Marketing, Mobile Experience, Samsung UK & Ireland, told the Daily Mail: 'The S26 Ultra has the world's first Privacy Display on mobile which delivers protection at a pixel level, limiting what others can see from side angles while keeping your screen clear and usable.
'It means the next time you need to urgently view a sensitive work email or send someone some money you don't have to check who's watching.'
Through the phone's settings, users can choose 'Partial Screen Privacy', which automatically limits visibility for pop-up notifications or select apps.
On social media, tech enthusiasts have praised the innovative feature, with one calling it 'straight-up spy movie level tech'.
Or, for even more security, users can activate 'Maximum Privacy Protection' to completely obscure their screen.
On social media, tech fans have celebrated the arrival of this feature, praising Samsung for its commitment to privacy.
One enthusiastic commenter wrote on X: 'This is straight-up spy movie level tech.'
'Finally, no more strangers reading my PIN on the train,' shared another.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra was released yesterday as part of the new flagship S26 lineup, which also includes the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra starts from £1,279, the S26+ from £1,099, and the standard S26 from £879.
All of the new S26 lineup will be available for pre-order from February 25 and will go on sale from March 11.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Key stats
- Price: £1,279
- Display size: 6.9-inch QLED
- Display quality: Dynamic AMOLED, 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate
- Weight: 214g
- Rear Cameras: 50MP ultra-wide camera, 200MP wide camera, 50MP telephoto camera, 10MP telephoto camera
- Front Camera: 12MP front camera
- Chipset: Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
- Battery: 5,000 mAh
- Charging speed: Up to 75 per cent charge in 30 minutes
- Operating system: Android 16
- Water resistant: Up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes (IP68)