Samsung launch new S26 phone with world first 'Black Matrix' feature
Samsung just launched it's new S26 range, with new hardware that provides a fully customizable privacy screen dubbed the 'black matrix'.
While iPhone lovers eagerly await the iOS 26.4 update rolling out in the coming months, Samsung users have their own exciting development to anticipate.
The tech giant has never shied away from bold innovations, from pioneering curved displays to leading the foldable phone revolution.
According to the South Korean giant, the Galaxy S26 series will be its 'most intuitive Galaxy AI phone yet', combining cutting-edge hardware with an 'industry-leading camera' and artificial intelligence to make 'everyday tasks easier and faster.'
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In terms of specs, the CPU performance is getting a boost of 19% which means the Galaxy S26 Ultra can respond faster and manage workloads more efficiently.
The device also delivers a 39% improvement in NPU performance, powering always-active Galaxy AI features and a GPU performance upgrade by 24% for enhanced visuals and smoother gaming.
Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of the device is its innovative Black Matrix mode. Instead of relying on external accessories like privacy screen protectors, this new protection is built directly into the device itself.
During Samsung's recent Galaxy S26 presentation, the company unveiled its new display technology that uses narrow and wide pixels.
When activated, the Privacy Display feature restricts the light path from each pixel to precisely control what's visible. Users looking at their phone straight on won't notice much difference, but when they tilt it at different angles, the view is noticeably dimmer. This is great news for when you're out in public and want to keep prying eyes away from your device.
Tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee described the tech as 'pretty incredible' as he demonstrated the feature in a recent video.
"When you turn it on, the display should look unchanged from straight on, but as you get off-axis, it actually fades to grey and almost black," Brownlee explained.
Moreover, users can customise the feature so it will automatically turn on in certain locations or apps which is a game-changer for banking apps or private conversations.
The technology can also selectively cover portions of the screen, blacking out incoming notifications that might contain two-factor authentication codes or hiding just the password fields in apps.
Safe to say, many Samsung users are loving the idea of this tech breakthrough.
"That screen privacy feature being software enabled so you can darken select apps or parts of your screen is genuinely impressive and useful," one user commented on the video.
"The privacy screen is quite impressive, particularly in certain places such as alerts or passcodes," another added.
"The privacy thing is genuinely really cool," someone else noted.