Private or not, I couldn’t live with the S26 Ultra’s screen
Source: Android Authority
I’ve always loved Samsung’s displays. I used Samsung phones exclusively for a long time — almost six years — and the screen was always one of the best parts of the experience. Last year I switched to a Pixel 10 Pro, and recently my wife bought a Galaxy S26 Ultra (link). After seeing them side by side, I couldn’t live with the S26 Ultra’s display.
Brightness is lacking
Zac Kew‑Denniss / Android Authority
When I took my Pixel 10 Pro and the S26 Ultra outside to photograph them together, I noticed how much brighter the Pixel is. The difference doesn’t look as dramatic through a camera lens as it does in person, but in person the disparity is staggering. I had assumed that once a display reached about 1,500–2,000 nits, additional brightness wouldn’t be noticeable. I was wrong.
The Pixel 10 Pro can reach a peak brightness of 3,300 nits, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra tops out at 2,600 nits. That 700‑nit gap made the Pixel easier to use during a recent holiday with unusually bright UK sunshine, especially when framing shots.
I wondered if the issue was the Privacy Display, which reduces viewing angles even when turned off. The Z Fold 7 I had with me, which shares the same 2,600‑nit peak for its cover display, was just as difficult to see. The Privacy Display isn’t without its problems, though.
Privacy Display hurts my eyes
Zac Kew‑Denniss / Android Authority
Privacy Display is a cool piece of hardware—when you see it in action, it feels like magic, and I loved messing with it before the S26 Ultra’s launch. After using the phone longer, I’ve realized it gives me migraines.
I’ve been a chronic migraine sufferer since I was 13, and the S26 Ultra’s display exacerbates my symptoms. Some customers have even returned the phone because of eye strain, nausea, and other issues (source). There isn’t hard evidence that the Privacy Display is the cause; it could be related to Samsung’s low‑PWM dimming (details).
Every time I use my wife’s S26 Ultra for more than a few minutes—whether Privacy Display is enabled or not—I start to feel ill. My eyes hurt and become blurry, followed by nausea, fatigue, and neck stiffness, classic migraine precursors.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what’s causing the issue. If it isn’t fixed in future phones, I won’t be able to switch back to Samsung anytime soon. The lower brightness is tolerable, but having to lock myself in a dark room for an entire day after using the phone is not. Google’s claim that the Pixel 10 Pro’s display is “the best in the world” feels more justified after living with it, especially compared to Samsung’s current offering.