Samsung has launched an internal investigation after receiving consumer reports regarding the appearance of reddish spots on the Galaxy S26 Ultra display. The initial suspicion points to a defect related to the new Privacy Screen, a technological feature responsible for adjusting light emission and pixel distribution.
The company is seeking to determine if these incidents are limited to specific production batches, demonstration units, or if they depend on particular usage circumstances. Although Samsung is known for offering high-quality screens in the smartphone market, it occasionally faces technical issues. According to the SamMobile portal, the internal analysis was triggered to understand the conditions under which the fault manifests.
Given that the error appears concentrated on the S26 Ultra, attention is focused on the Privacy Screen, one of the latest features in the line. This technology operates by replacing external films, natively reducing the screen's viewing angle to prevent third parties from viewing the content. The functioning of this feature is based on hardware, using a distinct distribution of pixels and light emission, which may have impacted color or brightness uniformity in certain uses, resulting in the reddish spot.
Users also raised the possibility of burn-in occurring, a term used to describe pixel wear on OLED screens, a phenomenon that happens when specific areas of the panel are used intensively for long periods. Another theory suggests that the problem might be related to color calibration, brightness, or the operation of the privacy mode itself. If this is the case, Samsung would have the ability to resolve the behavior through a software update, unlike what would happen if the fault were in the physical panel.
In 2020, flagship models from the brand faced a green screen bug, where the display took on a greenish tint when reducing brightness, and another incident occurred with the Galaxy S20 Ultra when refresh rates exceeded 60 Hz. At that time, the company resolved these issues through software updates. Currently, there are rumors that the functionality will be expanded to the next generation of the Galaxy S line. It is expected that, in addition to the Ultra version, at least the Galaxy S27 Pro—a smaller version of the most expensive model—will receive this technology. Furthermore, it is speculated that the Privacy Screen may be implemented across the entire Galaxy S27 line, including the basic model, and that the family could feature four models if the Pro version is confirmed.
According to the portal The Elec, Samsung plans to incorporate the Privacy Screen feature into all models of the Galaxy S27 line. This technology was initially introduced in the Galaxy S26 Ultra and serves to reduce the viewing angle of the screen, making it difficult for people around to see the displayed content.
Initially, it was expected that the Privacy Screen would be restricted to the most sophisticated models, such as the Ultra and the future Pro (which would be an Ultra version in a smaller body). However, new information indicates that this feature may be available across all four variants of the Galaxy S27 family, including the basic model and the S27 Plus.
To manage the costs associated with this feature, the company reportedly considered replacing Samsung Display with external suppliers for the entry-level model. Among the options analyzed was BOE, a Chinese manufacturer that already supplies panels to brands like Apple and Xiaomi, as well as mid-range lines from Samsung itself, such as the Galaxy A and M series. However, these negotiations reportedly did not progress.
In a global scenario pressured by the memory chip crisis, the electronics market may face new price adjustments next year, a phenomenon already observed in the Galaxy S26 line. Other Chinese manufacturers, including Xiaomi, Honor, Oppo, and Vivo (operating as Jovi in Brazil), are also developing similar solutions for their future premium smartphones.
The Privacy Screen operates as a protective layer integrated into the display itself. When activated, it ensures that the content remains fully visible to whoever is looking directly at the device, but makes it much more difficult to view from the sides. This innovation, which emerged with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, uses a pixel architecture on the panel to modulate the light emission angle. Part of the pixels maintains a more restricted view, while another part can be darkened or reduced when the privacy mode is activated.
The goal of this technology is to prevent prying eyes in public places such as public transport, queues, elevators, or workplaces. Furthermore, the user has the option to configure the feature for specific moments, which is particularly useful when accessing sensitive data, such as banking apps, emails, or documents, outside the home.
Besides the Privacy Screen, there are other rumors detailing the specifications of the next generation. According to the portal SamMobile, the Galaxy S27 and S27 Plus are expected to use the new Exynos 2700 processor in most markets. Meanwhile, the S27 Ultra and the newly announced S27 Pro will come equipped with a customized version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6.
Updates are also expected regarding memory, storage, and cameras. The standard Galaxy S27 model may start with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. For the Ultra model, there is the possibility of an enhanced 200 MP main camera. Samsung may also integrate a new ISOCELL HP6 main sensor, which will maintain the 1/1.3” optical format but incorporate new technologies to elevate the image and video quality of the devices. It is predicted that the Galaxy S27 Pro will share the main and ultrawide lenses with the S27 Ultra but will have a distinct telephoto lens.
