Samsung cannot seem to keep a lid on its secrets this year. The official Unpacked event is just a few days away, but one lucky tech enthusiast has already bought a retail unit of the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
This massive leak gives us our first confirmed look at the highly anticipated Privacy Display technology in the real world. We also get a clear view of the design changes and a few quirks with the S Pen that potential buyers need to know about immediately.
The Dubai Retail Breach
It appears that retailers in Dubai have broken the street date once again. Tech YouTuber Sahil Karoul managed to purchase a fully boxed Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra earlier today.
He did not waste any time sharing his discovery. Karoul took to X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to post high-resolution hands-on images and videos of the device. This is not a dummy unit or a prototype. This looks to be the final hardware that will ship to customers later this month.
The unit shown is the white color variant. It looks incredibly clean and features the sharp corners we have come to expect from the Ultra line.
Karoul compared the new beast directly against the iPhone 17 Pro Max and last year’s Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The side-by-side shots reveal a refined chassis. While the S25 Ultra was titanium-heavy, the S26 Ultra seems to lean into a brighter, more polished aesthetic in this specific colorway. The camera rings are distinct, but the overall design language remains consistent with Samsung’s recent history.
What is most shocking is how complete the package is. The box, the accessories, and the software are all ready to go. This suggests that millions of these units are already sitting in warehouses waiting for the green light.
Privacy Display in Action
The absolute headline feature of this leak is the Privacy Display. We have heard rumors and seen patents for years, but seeing it function on a real device is a game-changer.
In the video shared by Karoul, he toggles a setting in the quick panel. Instantly, the viewing angles of the screen change dramatically.
When you look at the phone head-on, the content is crisp and visible. However, as soon as he tilts the device to the side, the screen goes completely black.
This mimics the physical polarized privacy screen protectors that millions of people buy from Amazon. But this is built directly into the OLED panel itself.
Here is why this matters:
- No more dimming: Physical protectors usually make your screen darker even when looking straight at it. This software solution likely keeps full brightness when you need it.
- On-demand privacy: You can turn it off when you want to show a photo to a friend. You cannot do that with a glued-on piece of glass.
- Touch sensitivity: There is no extra layer interfering with the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.
The video shows the effect applied to the entire screen. Previous leaks suggested Samsung might allow this for specific windows or apps, but the current footage only confirms full-screen activation.
We still need to see how this impacts battery life. Activating a specialized layer in the display or altering pixel structure electronically usually consumes power. However, for commuters on trains or buses, this feature alone could be the reason to upgrade.
S Pen Quirks and Missing Features
The leak also shed light on the stylus situation. The Galaxy S26 Ultra retains the integrated S Pen slot, which is great news for power users.
However, there is a design choice that might annoy some people. Karoul demonstrated that the S Pen sticks out slightly weirdly if you try to insert it backward.
Long-time Samsung fans will remember the “Pengate” issue with the Galaxy Note 5 years ago. While this does not look like it will break the phone, it does look awkward. It suggests the internal silo might not be as foolproof as we hoped.
Another confirmation is the lack of Bluetooth connectivity in the stylus.
This feature was removed in the previous generation, and it has not returned. This means no air actions for controlling the camera remotely or waving the wand to change volume.
Here is a quick breakdown of the S Pen situation:
| Feature | Status |
|---|---|
| Integrated Slot | Yes |
| Bluetooth / Battery | No (Passive stylus only) |
| Design Fit | Flush when correct, awkward when backward |
| Latency | 2.8ms (Estimated based on performance) |
For most users, this is fine. The primary use for the pen is writing and drawing. But if you loved using your S Pen as a remote shutter for group photos, you are out of luck for another year.
Design Comparison and Market Impact
Seeing the Galaxy S26 Ultra next to the iPhone 17 Pro Max is revealing. The iPhone has moved toward softer corners recently, while Samsung is sticking to its boxy, notebook-like geometry.
The white colorway looks particularly premium. It contrasts heavily with the dark lenses on the back. It gives the phone a “panda” look that many tech enthusiasts enjoy.
The comparison with the broken Galaxy S25 Ultra in the photos also highlights durability. The S26 Ultra appears to have a slightly different frame structure. We hope this means it is more resistant to drops, but we will have to wait for official drop tests.
This leak puts Samsung in a tough spot.
With the surprise ruined, they have to rely on software features and AI integration to wow the crowd at the launch event. The hardware story is now fully told.
The Privacy Display is clearly the standout innovation. In a market where smartphones have become boring glass slabs, adding a hardware-level privacy filter is a genuine innovation. It solves a real problem that users face every day.
It also raises the bar for Apple and Google. If Samsung can make digital privacy screens standard, everyone else will have to follow suit.
