- Someone appears to have already purchased a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- They have showcased both the phone and its packaging
- We are also getting a first look at the Privacy Display in action
Just one day before the anticipated February 25 launch of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, a retailer in Dubai seemingly jumped the gun, reportedly beginning sales of the new phones.
X user @KaroulSahil (via PhoneArena) claims to have purchased a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and has shared footage of the device.
Posts showcase the phone’s packaging, a size comparison with other smartphones, and a demonstration of the Privacy Display feature.
In the comparison shots, the S26 Ultra is shown alongside an iPhone 17 Pro Max, as well as phones from Vivo and Oppo. The device appears to be roughly the same size as these other models, perhaps slightly taller, and shares a similar design to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, though it now features a camera island.
Perhaps the most intriguing reveal is the Privacy Display – a feature Samsung has previously hinted at, but which is now being shown in action. As privacy concerns grow, features like this are becoming increasingly important for smartphone users.
A short video demonstrates that when Privacy Display is activated, the screen becomes significantly darker when viewed from an angle, preventing onlookers from easily seeing what’s on the display.
There’s also a toggle for “Maximum privacy protection,” which, based on earlier leaks, is believed to further reduce screen brightness even when viewed head-on, making the content even less visible from the sides, though this remains to be confirmed.
It Doesn’t Look as Clever as We Hoped
Whereas some leaks suggested that Privacy Display would be highly customizable, allowing users to automatically activate it in certain situations, such as when away from home, or to simply hide specific parts of the screen, this footage suggests that may not be the case, as only these two toggles are visible.
It’s possible, of course, that other controls exist elsewhere, or that activating the “Maximum privacy protection” toggle reveals additional options. Or perhaps This represents an early build of Samsung’s software. We can’t be certain these options won’t be offered, but it doesn’t look promising.
Still, even without them, Privacy Display appears to be a genuinely useful feature, which is good news, as leaks suggest there may not be many other groundbreaking upgrades. We’ll know for sure on February 25.
