Yes, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has had a massive speed upgrade, comes in a range of new colours and gets some smarter AI features, but the one update everyone is talking about is its Privacy Display. This very clever screen can now stop prying eyes from glancing at your texts or having a sneaky peek when you punch in your password.

It’s all made possible by technology that allows the screen’s pixels to move dynamically. This keeps the display visible when you look at it straight on, but it appears dim when viewed from the side by anyone around you. I’ve been lucky enough to have had the S26 Ultra in my hands since it launched last month during Samsung’s Unpacked event in San Francisco, and there’s no doubt that the Privacy Display is a standout feature that Samsung’s rivals can’t match.

It’s simple to turn it on or off via the Quick panel drop-down menu, and you can even customise it to only blank out certain apps, messages or just your lockscreen password. It’s certainly useful, but, having thoroughly tested it, there’s no way I would have this function switched on permanently.

The moment the Privacy Display is activated, Samsung’s dazzling 6.9-inch AMOLED screen instantly looks muted and dull due to the loss of some pixels in order to make the angled viewing possible

It almost feels like you have a device from 10 years ago in your hand, and it makes the whole visual experience look much less premium.

I’ve also noticed an issue when taking photos – especially when snapping things at an angle. If you aren’t looking directly at the screen, the objects you are trying to shoot aren’t clear on the screen, making it hard to get that perfect Instagram-ready snap.

I’m sure many people will really like this privacy function as it does offer some peace of mind – especially when on a packed train or when travelling on the London Underground.

However, my life simply isn’t that secretive to warrant a toned-down display.

I also wonder if having it switched on could cause more harm than good. I can see the arguments now when partners suddenly realise this setting has been activated and texts are being hidden from view.

Of course, Samsung doesn’t force you to switch it on, and there are many scenarios where it could be really useful. There’s also nothing else on the market quite like it, and those wanting some privacy currently need to add a special screen protector to their devices that can’t be turned off unless entirely permanently removed.

So, that’s the Privacy Display, but what else is new on the Galaxy S26 Ultra?

Firstly, there’s a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor under the hood, which delivers serious performance gains.

The Ultra is the only Galaxy phone to get this premium upgrade in the UK, as both the S26 and S26+ feature Samsung’s Exynos 2600 chip instead.

Along with being ludicrously quick, the 8 Elite Gen 5 is super efficient, and I’ve had no issues getting through a whole 24 hours on a single charge.

In fact, treat it kindly and the 5,000mAh battery will easily last into a second day. To help the device stay cool under pressure, Samsung has also redesigned the Vapour Chamber, allowing heat to spread more efficiently across a larger surface area. That’s especially useful for anyone who loves gaming on their smartphones as it stops the metal case from getting too toasty.

Like all Ultra phones, the quad rear cameras are superb and offer plenty of options, including taking landscapes via the 50MP ultra-wide-angle lens and getting up close with its 5x optical zoom.

These lenses also now shoot better images at night and offer improved video via upgraded Super Steady capabilities and a horizontal lock function, which ends annoying shakes and wobbles.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is also the first Galaxy device to support APV. This is a new professional-grade video codec designed to deliver efficient compression for high-quality production workflows. It’s basically a feature designed for advanced creators, ensuring visually lossless video quality that remains true even after repeated editing.

The Ultra’s cameras are good, but it’s worth checking out our Xiaomi 17 Ultra review to find a worthy competitor, as we are not the only technology journalists raving about the images that phone can shoot.

You still get the neat S Pen stylus tucked inside the S26 Ultra, the device is covered in Gorilla Glass for added protection, and it’s fully water resistant.

Galaxy AI and Google’s Gemini assistant continue to be baked in and offer a swathe of smart features, such as Now Nudge, which offers timely and relevant suggestions that pop up on the screen.

I’m still a little unsure who really needs or wants all this artificial intelligence, but things such as Circle to Search, Auto Erase for photo editing and Samsung’s Now Brief – which shows data about your day ahead – are pretty useful.

It’s almost impossible to fault the S26 Ultra, and this is another stellar flagship phone from Samsung.

If I had one gripe, it would be the lack of magnets in the rear case.

Google followed Apple last year by bringing MagSafe-style technology to its latest Pixel 10 devices. This makes it super simple to attach to chargers or snap accessories to the rear of the device.

Google calls it Pixelsnap, and it’s a real shame Samsung hasn’t joined the party with a “Galaxy Snap” upgrade, as it’s genuinely useful.

The only other thing to note is that prices have shot up this year, which means the S26 Ultra is now £1,279.

Shop around, and you’ll find the older S25 Ultra available for under £900 – that’s about £400 less for what is still an excellent smartphone.

So yes, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is an incredible device that I would happily recommend to anyone looking for a super-premium Android flagship.

It’s blisteringly fast, gets that clever screen, long battery life, cracking cameras and neat S Pen inside its shell.

Just be aware that its headline Privacy Display upgrade does have its flaws, it’s not radically different from the S25 Ultra, and it will cost you more than ever to buy.