Samsung Adds PiP Privacy Filtering in One UI 9 for Galaxy S26 Ultra

Q: Is Samsung's 'Privacy Display' for videos a true innovation or just a 'placebo' that fails to deliver on its promise?

Samsung’s Privacy Display looks more like a real but limited innovation than a placebo. The strongest evidence is that this is not just a software dimming trick. On the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung’s privacy system is tied to the display hardware and can now be applied specifically to Picture-in-Picture video in One UI 9 beta. That matters because it lets the PiP window become harder to read from side angles while leaving the rest of the homescreen normal, a more precise approach than traditional privacy screen protectors that darken everything. It also addresses a genuine use case. People watching videos, joining calls, or multitasking in public often want only the floating video window hidden from nearby viewers. The new beta feature gives that control on an app-by-app basis, which is a practical improvement rather than a cosmetic one. But the criticism is also credible. User reports suggest the effect is not foolproof, especially in bright environments, and some say it mainly reduces brightness while only modestly narrowing viewing angles. That means it may disappoint anyone expecting complete side-view blocking. Physical privacy filters can still offer stronger protection, though with bigger trade-offs for everyday use. So the fairest reading is that Samsung has delivered a meaningful technical advance, especially in how selectively it protects PiP video, but not a perfect shield. It works as an added layer of privacy, not as a guarantee.

3 articles · Updated · Android Authority · Jul 21

One UI 9 beta now lets picture-in-picture videos on the Galaxy S26 Ultra use Privacy Display filtering, obscuring the floating player from off-angle viewers while leaving the rest of the home screen unchanged.
Apps such as YouTube must be individually enabled in Privacy Display settings, and the feature works only when filtering is set per app rather than across the entire display.
Samsung’s update expands the S26 Ultra’s selective privacy tool beyond notifications and sensitive app content, making the display feature more practical for everyday multitasking.
The change appears live in a One UI 9 beta build ending in BZG4, though the display still leaks some visibility at certain angles and may preview features for future Galaxy devices.