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Zac Kew-Denniss \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve always loved Samsung\u2019s displays. I used Samsung phones exclusively for a long time \u2014 almost six years \u2014 and the screen was always one of the best parts of the experience. Last year I switched to a Pixel 10 Pro<\/a>, and recently my wife bought a Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/a>, and after seeing them side by side, I couldn\u2019t live with the S26 Ultra\u2019s display.<\/p>\n Are you satisfied with the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s display?<\/p>\n 324 votes<\/p>\n Yes<\/p>\n 40%<\/p>\n No<\/p>\n 23%<\/p>\n I haven’t used one<\/p>\n 37%<\/p>\n Brightness is lacking<\/p>\n Zac Kew-Denniss \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n When I took my 10 Pro and the S26 Ultra outside to photograph them together, I noticed how much brighter the Pixel is. The difference doesn\u2019t look as dramatic through a camera lens as it does in person, but believe me when I say the difference in person is staggering. For a long time I assumed that display brightness was an exercise in diminishing returns. That once you got about 1,500-2,000 nits, you wouldn\u2019t notice any meaningful difference. I was wrong.<\/p>\n The extra brightness helped frame up shots and actually see what I was taking a picture of.<\/p>\n The Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/a> reaches a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, while my Pixel 10 Pro is capable of 3,300 nits. That 700 nits is enough of a difference that during our recent holiday, during which we had an unusual amount of sunshine for the UK, my Pixel was easier to use, especially when taking photos. The extra brightness helped frame up shots and actually see what I was taking a picture of.<\/p>\n I wondered if the issue was the Privacy Display, seeing as it has reduced viewing angles even when the feature is turned off. I am not convinced that\u2019s the issue. The Z Fold 7 I had with me, which has the same 2,600-nit peak brightness for its cover display, was just as difficult to see. The Privacy Display isn\u2019t without its problems, though.<\/p>\n Privacy Display hurts my eyes<\/p>\n Zac Kew-Denniss \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n Privacy Display is a cool piece of hardware. When you see it in action, it feels like magic, and I loved messing with it when I got hands-on with the S26 Ultra before its launch. Now that I\u2019ve had more time with the phone, I\u2019ve realized there\u2019s a problem \u2014 it gives me migraines.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been a chronic migraine sufferer since I was 13, and whatever is going on with the S26 Ultra\u2019s display doesn\u2019t play well with me. I\u2019m not the only one who feels that way; some customers have returned the phone<\/a> because of eye strain, nausea, and other issues. There isn\u2019t any hard evidence that suggests this is because of the Privacy Display. It could be related to Samsung\u2019s low PWM dimming<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every time I use my wife’s S26 Ultra for more than a few minutes, I start to feel ill.<\/p>\n I think Privacy Display is the issue, though. As I said at the outset, I\u2019ve used plenty of Samsung devices, and I still use a Galaxy Z Fold 7. The Fold 7 has the same PWM rate as the S26 Ultra, and the Fold has never given me issues.<\/p>\n Every time I use my wife\u2019s S26 Ultra for more than a few minutes, Privacy Display enabled or not, I start to feel ill. First, my eyes begin to hurt and start to feel blurry. If I use it for any longer, the other telltale symptoms of an incoming migraine begin: nausea, fatigue, and stiffness in my neck.<\/p>\n Zac Kew-Denniss \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n Ultimately, it doesn\u2019t matter what\u2019s causing the issue. If it\u2019s something that isn\u2019t rectified in future phones, then I won\u2019t be able to switch back to using a Samsung phone anytime soon. The lacking brightness is something I can overlook, but having to lock myself in a dark room for an entire day after using the phone is something I can\u2019t ignore. We all scoffed when Google called the Pixel 10 Pro\u2019s display the best in the world during its launch event. Now that I\u2019ve lived with it, though, I think there\u2019s more to that statement than I thought. Compared to what Samsung is doing, anyway.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t want to miss the best from Android Authority?<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Pixel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Pixel-10-Pro-Galaxy-S26-Ultra-brightness-scaled.jpg\"\/ "\\"Pixel")
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