One of the biggest improvements to the phone Galaxy S26 Ultra is certainly the Privacy Display feature. It prevents others from reading the screen by limiting viewing angles. The content of the display is only visible to the user, while the screen appears black to prying eyes. However, the feature seems to have some side effects that some users have started to complain about. These include poorer image quality or eye burning.
So what is the reality? This feature can actually ruin the picture quality of a high-end panel Galaxy S26 Ultra? The Privacy Display function works on the principle of software and hardware limitation of viewing angles. Although Samsung boasts that its display allows the user to see perfectly even from the side, in this mode, light rays are directed in a targeted manner. This results in the following two effects:
- Loss of brightness: Even if you have the brightness set to maximum, when Privacy Display is activated, the image appears 15–20% darker.
- Grid effect: The system uses specific rendering to shade angled views pixelwhich, upon close examination, may appear as subtle noise or graininess in the image.
Why do my eyes hurt when the Privacy Display is on?
The reason is not the display radiation itself, as you might think, but the way our eyes try to deal with it. When Privacy Display is active, the contrast decreases - the text is no longer as sharp against the background and our eyes subconsciously try to constantly sharpen it. Added to this is the fact that users often subconsciously increase the brightness on the maximum to compensate for the darkening, paradoxically putting more strain on their eyes.
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It is worth noting that complaints about poorer display quality and burning eyes when the Privacy Display is on are not widespread. They are limited to a group of people who use the display of their Galaxy S26 Ultra The average user will probably not notice these side effects and will enjoy a sharp, bright, and otherwise top-notch display.
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However, these side effects can be mitigated by taking these steps:
- By turning on the function Eye comfort (Settings→Display)
- By using Dark mode (Settings→Display) or regime Extra muted (Settings→Accessibility→Improve vision)
- By holding the screen away from your eyes (at least 30 cm)
The technological marvel you shouldn't use all the time
Galaxy S26 Ultra has one of the best displays on the market and the Privacy Display function is undoubtedly a technological marvel. However, it should be remembered that this is a tool that you should not use all the time, but only when necessary, e.g. in a cafe or on the subway and ideally not universally, but for specific uses - for notifications of communication platforms, for banking, in the Gallery, etc.
You can pre-order a series at Mobil Pohotovosti Galaxy S26 from 600 CZK per month, with a discount of up to 18,800 CZK and especially with a free 3-year warranty. More at mp.cz/samsung-galaxy-S26.
