Samsung has previewed a new privacy feature designed to prevent others from peeking at your phone screen. While the company did not provide specific technical details, it stated that Galaxy smartphone owners will gain control over what people around them can see, based on their needed level of privacy.
Users will be able to customize this feature for use with specific apps or while entering passcodes, PINs, patterns, or passwords. Multiple settings will allow for adjusting the visibility of on-screen content. Samsung noted that you will also be able to hide certain parts of the phone from onlookers, such as the notification area. The company is using a combination of hardware and software to achieve these results.
The feature is expected to launch with the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra. Samsung explained the motivation behind the development, stating that phones are our most personal spaces yet are often used in public. This new layer of privacy is meant to shield your phone from shoulder surfing, allowing you to check messages or enter a password on public transit without worry.
An online tipster known as Ice Universe posted screenshots illustrating how the feature works. The images showed the notification area blanking out when viewed from an angle, meaning the phone owner can see the content while someone sitting beside them cannot. If effective, this could eliminate the need for separate physical privacy screen protectors.
Using smartphones in public carries risks, as onlookers can steal private information like passwords. Several years ago, a report highlighted how thieves would watch users enter passcodes to lock them out of their accounts. In response, Apple previously released a Stolen Device Protection update to enhance security.
Samsung has not announced a definitive release date for this privacy feature or the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Reports suggest the company will hold a launch event for the device in February.