Samsung’s Privacy Display Leads on Privacy, but Brightness and Comfort Suffer

By contrast, HUAWEI and Xiaomi only block horizontal views from the sides, Ice Universe said on X. The key difference is therefore vertical privacy: Samsung can hide content from above and below as well as from left and right, while its competitors cannot, according to the leaker. Android Authority reported that the core of Samsung’s advantage lies in its ability to hide content from the top and bottom, as well as the sides, whereas HUAWEI and Xiaomi can only hide content from the sides.

The hardware approach that gives Samsung its lead also creates problems. Android Authority reported that Samsung’s aggressive implementation causes notable off-axis brightness loss, reduced image clarity, and even eye strain and nausea for some users. Those effects occur when the display is viewed from an angle, making the privacy protection stronger but the viewing experience less comfortable or consistent.

Competitors are taking a different approach. Xiaomi, for example, balances privacy with convenience by adding software features such as voice commands, location triggers, and shoulder-surfer detection, Android Authority reported. These features aim to offer privacy protections without the same hardware trade-offs, the report said.

Samsung was the first Android brand to incorporate a Privacy Display, starting with its flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra earlier this year, according to Android Authority. Other Android brands have now caught up. The HUAWEI Mate XT 2 and the Xiaomi 18 Pro series have introduced their own spins on the Privacy Display, the report said. Despite the feature’s spread across brands, Android Authority reported that Samsung appears likely to retain its crown as the most private Privacy Display implementation.