<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/samsung" rel="" target="" title="Samsung"><span>Samsung</span></a><span>'s flagship </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/phones" rel="" target="" title="smartphone"><span>smartphone</span></a><span> for 2026 will launch with an industry-first privacy feature aimed at stopping those prying eyes around you from glimpsing what you're looking at on your screen.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's called Privacy Display, and while the ability to block angled glances using a third-party screen protector has been around for some years, the ability to firstly do this at a hardware level and secondly do it on an as-needed basis is revolutionary.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This feature is achieved by controlling how each pixel disperses light, essentially using fewer pixels and blockage between them to ensure the angled view is restricted. While it's not pitch black and a sense of what's on screen is possible – and of course, the closer your angle to front-on the more you'll see – this feature is a huge leap forward in privacy.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/chris-baghsarian-remains-found-in-search-for-missing-grandfather-sydney/66bdff80-d78a-4f28-974f-a9b31bf840be" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>Two men charged over alleged kidnap, murder of Sydney grandfather</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Critically too, the feature can be enabled on an app-by-app basis and on specific areas of the screen, meaning notifications can be private, and whenever you launch your banking or email apps, they can be locked in privacy mode should you choose.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today's launch from Samsung did highlight new artificial intelligence features in the Samsung phones, but the company appears to have pivoted away from being "all about AI" and just making AI an everyday feature.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Samsung global chief executive TM Roh said, "We believe AI should be something people can depend on every day, designed to work consistently for everyone and without the need for expertise.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/technology/galaxy-s26-series-new-phone-privacy-screen-price-details/bb67524b-b43d-4963-a0ed-9bc58a266639" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/middle-east-security-warning-some-australians-in-israel-and-lebanon-told-to-leave/9f68ee42-51a7-449f-8bbd-d69be369f095"><strong><span>Aussies told to leave amid 'deteriorating security' in Middle East</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"With the Galaxy S26 series, we focused on making AI feel effortless, working quietly in the background so people can focus on what matters."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There will be three S26 phones this year; last year's fourth device, the Edge, which was the ultra-thin model, has been dropped, perhaps thanks to a lack of demand in the market. Instead, the company is focussed on its core, the S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, with the premium Ultra model likely to make up far more than 50 per cent of their sales.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's only the S26 Ultra model which features the new privacy screen, while across all three models there are many tweaks and improvements, not least the horizontal lock feature, which allows your video recording to stay stable and level even if the phone is twisted upside down.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a time of rising interest rates and cost of living pressures, both Samsung and their telco partners will be hoping for some forgiveness from buyers with outright prices rising year on year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/further-charges-laid-against-former-victorian-cfmeu-boss-john-setka/b097d9e2-44ed-4be6-bd2e-5a866946ac14"><strong><span>Ex-union boss arrested again over allegedly threatening emails</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The entry-level S26 is $1549, up from $1399 for the S25. The S26+ is also $150 more than its predecessor while the S26 Ultra is just $50 more than last year's model.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>All three go on sale on March 11, with pre-orders starting today. Samsung will also be hoping their subscription program "New Galaxy Club" might appeal to those who upgrade frequently, offering a $14 per month program to get device repair guarantees, and a guaranteed 50 per cent value back when you upgrade a year later.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>Trevor Long travelled to San Francisco as a guest of Samsung.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>