One UI 8.5 leak confirms upcoming Galaxy Ultra Privacy Display is real

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra could debut a game-changing “Private Display” feature that limits screen visibility from side angles, according to a fresh teardown of One UI 8.5 code. Here’s what we know so far.

May even come with adjustable levels of privacy

The discovery comes from Android Authority’s peek inside an early build of Samsung’s next big software update. Strings referencing both “Privacy Display” and “Private Display” were spotted throughout the code. This obviously suggests the company is cooking up a feature that’ll hide your screen from nosy people.

Moreover, the strings suggest a level of smarts that goes way beyond what current privacy screen protectors can offer. There’s talk of automatic activation when you’re in crowded places or using sensitive apps like banking and messaging. Samsung also appears to be testing a “Maximum Privacy” mode that kicks the display brightness down for extra protection. Even manual toggles are present for those who like full control.

ALSO READ: Which Samsung phones will get the One UI 8 update?

What’s really wild is that this isn’t just a software trick. Rumour has it the S26 Ultra will ship with Flex Magic Pixel tech, a new kind of OLED display from the company’s own labs. This tech uses AI to change the angle of pixels in real time, blocking off unwanted side glances without dimming or distorting the image for the person actually using the phone.

The feature might even extend to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 down the line, but for now, it looks like the Ultra is taking the lead.

Digging deeper into the leaked code reveals another perk. Users may be able to pick which apps trigger Private Display, and even set schedules for when it activates. So you could have it automatically switch on during your train commute or whenever you fire up your bank app.

As of writing, Samsung hasn’t confirmed anything. But still, this privacy-first feature could be one of the biggest quality-of-life upgrades in years. One UI 8.5 is expected to launch early next year alongside the Galaxy S26 lineup.