Samsung just took the wraps off its Galaxy S26 lineup at a San Francisco event, and the phones pack some genuinely useful hardware alongside a torrent of AI features. The standout? A privacy display that blacks out sensitive content based on viewing angle - a feature leaked through Samsung's own ads that could actually solve real shoulder-surfing problems. But the S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra also come loaded with questionable AI photo and video editing tools, plus a new Perplexity integration for Galaxy AI.
Samsung is betting big on privacy and AI with the Galaxy S26 lineup unveiled today in San Francisco. The company's Unpacked event showcases three new flagship phones - the S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra - headlined by what Samsung calls its "viewing angle privacy display" technology.
The privacy display feature, which Samsung accidentally leaked through its own marketing materials weeks ago, uses what the company describes as angle-dependent pixel technology to black out sensitive content when viewed from the side. It's the kind of practical hardware innovation that's become rare in a smartphone market obsessed with incremental camera upgrades and software tricks.
"Samsung truly is a land of contrasts," The Verge noted in its live coverage, capturing the tension between useful hardware features and an overwhelming push into AI territory. The S26 phones arrive packed with what Samsung is calling the next generation of Galaxy AI, but much of it centers on photo and video editing capabilities that critics have already labeled as "slop" - AI-generated content of questionable quality and utility.
According to recent reporting from The Verge, Samsung has been flooding its social channels with AI-generated promotional content in the lead-up to today's event, raising questions about the company's approach to artificial intelligence integration. The strategy appears designed to normalize AI-edited media, but it's generated significant pushback from tech enthusiasts and privacy advocates.
