Galaxy S26 Ultra will have built-in privacy display feature

The last two weeks have been big for major smartphone companies. On one hand, we’ve had all the hype around the launch of the iPhone 17 series, and on the other, plenty of chatter about the Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max redesigns, with those rear screens making headlines. Now it’s Samsung’s turn to step into the spotlight, as the Galaxy S26 Ultra has now leaked in renders and other features in a pretty substantial amount that give us our clearest look yet at the Korean giant’s next flagship. So, let’s jump into this article, where i will discuss everything about the upcoming Samsung’s flagship: the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Rumors

Design and Display

A little while back we had already affirmed that through the leaked renders of that time, it fairly appeared that the Galaxy S26 Ultra didn’t seem to reinvent itself, not by any stretch, but it definitely looked more polished than the S25 Ultra.

And now, just a couple of days earlier, the newest CAD renders had leaked online, which suggest that the Galaxy S26 Ultra is exactly as previously rumored. The bezels are now slimmer, which makes the 6.89-inch display feel even larger, even though the actual size barely changes from last year’s model. Samsung will almost certainly market it as a 6.9-inch screen, just like before. The camera island has been redesigned into a pill-shaped module, similar to Samsung’s FE and lower-tier S models.

The overall design is noticeably curvier, both along the edges and in the corners. If you’ve been following Samsung’s design language, you’ll notice the S25 Ultra leaned a little flat and boxy, but the S26 Ultra looks more organic. Even from the side profile, the edges now form more of a pill-shaped curve rather than the flat sides we’re used to.

Privacy Display Feature

 One of the most interesting-sounding additions is Samsung’s potential ‘Privacy Display.’ Functionally, it could act like a built-in privacy screen protector that limits visibility from side angles without any additional accessories. The feature can then reportedly be toggled on automatically in crowded places, applied to specific apps, or scheduled to turn on and off. It can obscure notifications, picture-in-picture windows, gallery images tagged as private, and even screen lock interfaces. Maximum Privacy mode will apparently even reduce screen brightness to make it even harder for people nearby to peek. Some new reports now also suggest this feature will require One UI 8.5 and hardware support, which basically means it will likely be exclusive to the Galaxy S26 Ultra only. 

Will there be an S Pen?

The Galaxy S26 Ultra was previously rumored to ditch the S Pen to make room for a bigger battery or new features like Qi2 wireless charging, but from recent leaks, it looks like it is set to keep the beloved built-in S Pen. Recent leaks from tipster Ice Universe have confirmed that the phone will feature a dedicated S Pen slot on the bottom. And according to the leaks, the S Pen could see some upgrades too, a new hexagonal shape, an improved digitizer to reduce magnetic interference, and better compatibility with foldables and magnetic accessories.

Cameras

Samsung’s Ultra series has always been about cameras, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra looks set to keep that tradition. The main 200MP ISOCELL HP2 sensor is rumored to feature a wider f/1.4 aperture, up from f/1.7, which could let in about 47% more light for sharper shots and better low-light performance. It’s also expected to get AI-powered processing through the upgraded ProVisual Engine, including 8K 60fps video. The 50MP ultrawide might get a brighter f/1.9 aperture, while the 50MP 5x periscope telephoto could go up to f/2.9, with the AI-assisted zoom reach up to 100x, featuring a new laser autofocus system rumored across all lenses. Even the 12MP front camera may get laser AF for portraits. The 3x telephoto lens, though, could be a bit controversial. New leaks suggest it might use a 12MP sensor, possibly cropped down to 10MP, which could hurt low-light performance compared to competitors. The same leaker, Ice Universe, even called it a “downgrade,” so it will be interesting to see how it performs in real life. Early rumors about a 200MP periscope or variable-aperture main lens have died down, with Samsung likely sticking to the existing sensors to save space for a slightly bigger battery. On the design side of the camera module, the leak shows us that Samsung is about to switch things up with a single raised camera module instead of the separate floating rings from the S25 Ultra. The triple camera plus periscope setup is still there, but the unified module makes the back look cleaner and more like Samsung’s midrange Galaxy A phones.

• Also, read
• Samsung introduces a money-back scheme with Galaxy S25 AI Subscription Club!
• Samsung's Galaxy S26 series could look a lot different with a "Pro" model
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge showcased with a superslim body and dual cameras

Samsung’s Silicon-Carbon Battery Plans?

Samsung was rumored to be developing silicon-carbon batteries to improve power efficiency while maintaining a slim design at the same. But it is now certain that this device will not be featuring the 7500 mAh Silicon Carbon battery as previously told. Although it’s about time for Samsung to go big on batteries because Chinese smartphone manufacturers have already started adopting Si/C batteries. Almost every other Chinese smartphones, from budget to flagship now feature batteries that range anywhere from 6500 mAh to 8500 mAh as well.

Performance

On the performance front, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is likely to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, paired with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. It is perhaps plausible that Samsung will get an exclusive Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, like it always. But we are uncertain if this flagship processor will be present in the entire family. Nonetheless, the recently released Xiaomi 17 series already features this chipset, and performance is also expectedly to be very good. 

Samsung Galaxy Price in Nepal and Availability

Samsung has not officially confirmed pricing or availability for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Based on current flagship trends, the starting price in Nepal is expected to be around NPR 190,000.

• Meanwhile, check out our review of the Galaxy S26 Ultra