Samsung’s Privacy Display is more private than rivals, but it reduces viewing quality and comfort

The useful part

Samsung Privacy Display leads rivals, but brings major trade-offs Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Mobile Samsung's Privacy Display is seemingly 'better' at privacy than rivals, but at what cost? Four-way blocking gives the S26 Ultra an edge over HUAWEI and Xiaomi, but display quality and user comfort take a hit.

How it works

• However, Samsung's aggressive hardware implementation causes notable off-axis brightness loss, reduced image clarity, and even eye strain and nausea for some users.
• However, Samsung's implementation appears to take a more comprehensive approach by limiting visibility along the vertical axis as well through the adoption of four-way baffles.
• Some users have also experienced eye strain, nausea, and other symptoms when using the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
• Though to be fair, HUAWEI's phone is too new (and expensive) for widespread reports to emerge, while Xiaomi's phone hasn't even launched yet, so it remains to be seen how consumers react to the Privacy...
• News Huawei Privacy Samsung Samsung Galaxy S26 Xiaomi Xiaomi 18 Follow Thank you for being part of our community.

What to take from it

By Aamir Siddiqui • Sep 22, 2026 — 8:53 AM ET • 0 • Stephen Radochia / Android Authority Add Android Authority on Google: Competitors like Xiaomi balance privacy with convenience by adding software features such as voice commands, location triggers, and shoulder-surfer detection. Samsung was the first Android brand to incorporate a Privacy Display, starting with its flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra earlier this year.

Example or evidence

• Keep in mind that all of these are Ice Universe's claims.
• Despite the feature's proliferation, it seems Samsung will still hold on to its crown as the most private Privacy Display implementation.
• Ice Universe / X As Ice Universe suggests, HUAWEI and Xiaomi's Privacy Display implementations seem to target only the horizontal axis, with left- and right-side blocking by baffles, which does stop...
• The display loses off-axis brightness and image clarity, an inevitable and inherent trade-off of its Privacy Display tech.

Details worth keeping

However, this aggressive protection comes with its own drawbacks. Display, such as voice-command activation, location triggers, and front-camera shoulder-surfer detection. So while Samsung beats others with its aggressive tech, Xiaomi and HUAWEI are choosing a middle ground that balances privacy with convenience.