I really like Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Extremely however its finest new function has an issue

Sure, the Galaxy S26 Extremely has had a large velocity improve, is available in a variety of recent colors and will get some smarter AI options, however the one replace everyone seems to be speaking about is its Privateness Show. This very intelligent display screen can now cease prying eyes from glancing at your texts or having a sneaky peek whenever you punch in your password.

It’s all made doable by know-how that enables the display screen’s pixels to maneuver dynamically. This retains the show seen whenever you take a look at it straight on, however it seems dim when considered from the facet by anybody round you. I’ve been fortunate sufficient to have had the S26 Extremely in my arms because it launched final month throughout Samsung’s Unpacked occasion in San Francisco, and there’s little doubt that the Privateness Show is a standout function that Samsung’s rivals can’t match.

It’s easy to show it on or off by way of the Fast panel drop-down menu, and you’ll even customise it to solely clean out sure apps, messages or simply your lockscreen password. It’s definitely helpful, however, having totally examined it, there’s no means I might have this operate switched on completely.

The second the Privateness Show is activated, Samsung’s dazzling 6.9-inch AMOLED display screen immediately seems muted and boring as a result of lack of some pixels with a purpose to make the angled viewing doable

It nearly appears like you’ve gotten a tool from 10 years in the past in your hand, and it makes the entire visible expertise look a lot much less premium.

I’ve additionally observed a problem when taking pictures – particularly when snapping issues at an angle. Should you aren’t wanting straight on the display screen, the objects you are attempting to shoot aren’t clear on the display screen, making it exhausting to get that good Instagram-ready snap.

I’m positive many individuals will actually like this privateness operate because it does provide some peace of thoughts – particularly when on a packed prepare or when travelling on the London Underground.

Nevertheless, my life merely isn’t that secretive to warrant a toned-down show.

I additionally surprise if having it switched on might trigger extra hurt than good. I can see the arguments now when companions all of a sudden realise this setting has been activated and texts are being hidden from view.

After all, Samsung doesn’t power you to change it on, and there are various eventualities the place it may very well be actually helpful. There’s additionally nothing else in the marketplace fairly prefer it, and people wanting some privateness presently want so as to add a particular display screen protector to their units that may’t be turned off except solely completely eliminated.

So, that’s the Privateness Show, however what else is new on the Galaxy S26 Extremely?

Firstly, there’s a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor beneath the hood, which delivers critical efficiency good points.

The Extremely is the one Galaxy telephone to get this premium improve within the UK, as each the S26 and S26+ function Samsung’s Exynos 2600 chip as a substitute.

Together with being ludicrously fast, the 8 Elite Gen 5 is tremendous environment friendly, and I’ve had no points getting by an entire 24 hours on a single cost.

Actually, deal with it kindly and the 5,000mAh battery will simply final right into a second day. To assist the machine keep cool beneath strain, Samsung has additionally redesigned the Vapour Chamber, permitting warmth to unfold extra effectively throughout a bigger floor space. That’s particularly helpful for anybody who loves gaming on their smartphones because it stops the metallic case from getting too toasty.

Like all Extremely telephones, the quad rear cameras are very good and provide loads of choices, together with taking landscapes by way of the 50MP ultra-wide-angle lens and getting up shut with its 5x optical zoom.

These lenses additionally now shoot higher pictures at evening and provide improved video by way of upgraded Tremendous Regular capabilities and a horizontal lock operate, which ends annoying shakes and wobbles.

The Galaxy S26 Extremely can also be the primary Galaxy machine to assist APV. This can be a new professional-grade video codec designed to ship environment friendly compression for high-quality manufacturing workflows. It’s mainly a function designed for superior creators, guaranteeing visually lossless video high quality that is still true even after repeated enhancing.

The Extremely’s cameras are good, however it’s price testing our Xiaomi 17 Extremely overview to discover a worthy competitor, as we’re not the one know-how journalists raving in regards to the pictures that telephone can shoot.

You continue to get the neat S Pen stylus tucked contained in the S26 Extremely, the machine is roofed in Gorilla Glass for added safety, and it’s totally water-proof.

Galaxy AI and Google’s Gemini assistant proceed to be baked in and provide a swathe of good options, resembling Now Nudge, which provides well timed and related recommendations that pop up on the display screen.

I’m nonetheless somewhat uncertain who actually wants or desires all this synthetic intelligence, however issues resembling Circle to Search, Auto Erase for photograph enhancing and Samsung’s Now Temporary – which reveals knowledge about your day forward – are fairly helpful.

It’s nearly not possible to fault the S26 Extremely, and that is one other stellar flagship telephone from Samsung.

If I had one gripe, it might be the dearth of magnets within the rear case.

Google adopted Apple final 12 months by bringing MagSafe-style know-how to its newest Pixel 10 units. This makes it tremendous easy to connect to chargers or snap equipment to the rear of the machine.

Google calls it Pixelsnap, and it’s an actual disgrace Samsung hasn’t joined the celebration with a “Galaxy Snap” improve, because it’s genuinely helpful.

The one different factor to notice is that costs have shot up this 12 months, which suggests the S26 Extremely is now £1,279.

Store round, and also you’ll discover the older S25 Extremely out there for beneath £900 – that’s about £400 much less for what continues to be a wonderful smartphone.

So sure, the Galaxy S26 Extremely is an unbelievable machine that I might fortunately suggest to anybody in search of a super-premium Android flagship.

It’s blisteringly quick, will get that intelligent display screen, lengthy battery life, cracking cameras and neat S Pen inside its shell.

Simply bear in mind that its headline Privateness Show improve does have its flaws, it’s not radically totally different from the S25 Extremely, and it’ll price you greater than ever to purchase.