The Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely is definitely an excellent flagship smartphone with a strong, AI-ready processor, wonderful cameras, a splendid design, and have highlights like Tremendous Regular Video and Privateness show. Nevertheless, it is that final bit which may be liable for a quite stunning S26 Extremely concern: the display is ever-so-slightly dimmer than the S25 Extremely, even with the Privateness show disabled.
There have been on-line complaints concerning the Galaxy S26 Extremely display, together with some claiming it causes eye pressure. As somebody who spent many days staring on the 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, I can inform you that I by no means skilled that. So far as I might inform, the display regarded vibrant, clear, and color-rich.
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Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely on left and S25 Extremely on proper. (Picture credit score: Lance Ulanoff / Future)
After studying at the moment’s story and the issues of Reddit, nonetheless, I made a decision to take one other look.
First, I dug again into the Future Labs benchmarks, focusing particularly on brightness in Nits and coloration quantity. The Galaxy S26 Extremely is rated by Samsung for 2600 peak nits, the identical quantity because the S25 Extremely’s display (aside from Privateness show, these panels are primarily equivalent), however it’s uncommon for any flagship to fulfill these standards beneath all of our take a look at situations.
As you possibly can see beneath, HDR brightness is usually decrease than the rated quantity for each telephones. Nevertheless, you may also discover that there’s a very tiny distinction between the S26 Extremely and S25 Extremely, and, sure, the S25 Extremely is ever-so-slightly brighter in our exams. It additionally bests, by a really slim margin, the S26 Extremely in coloration quantity.
Swipe to scroll horizontallyDisplay Checks: ShadeRow 0 – Cell 0
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely
Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely
Shade Gamut (sRGB)
151
151.5
Quantity (DCI-P3
106.9
107.3
Swipe to scroll horizontallyBrightness (HDR)Row 0 – Cell 0
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely
Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely
Adaptive Brightness on
1303
1328
Adaptive Brightness off
1272
1282
The variances are so small as to be negligible, and I would problem anybody to note these variations at a look. In case you occur to be holding an S26 Extremely, I am positive you see the identical vibrant and colourful display I did. I, nonetheless, have a bonus. I nonetheless have the superb Galaxy S25 Extremely readily available.
I made a decision to conduct a easy side-by-side visible take a look at. First, I made positive each telephones had all their platform updates. Subsequent, I made positive that each one display settings had been the identical, together with decision and brightness. I turned off adaptive brightness and, on the S26 Extremely, made positive Privateness Show was off.
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Then, I positioned the 2 telephones subsequent to one another, display up.
Wanting useless on, with my eyes perpendicular to the display, I assumed I detected a slight distinction, with the S25 Extremely presumably a touch brighter. The distinction is so small, I am unsure it is evident on this picture.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely on the left and Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely on the appropriate. (Picture credit score: Future)
Nevertheless, once I shifted perspective to extra of an off-angle view, the distinction was stark. Granted, I might not usually view my display this fashion, however I feel this gives some proof that the distinction could also be pushed by how Samsung is now dealing with huge pixels. In Privateness show, they’re turned off, however maybe their configuration, even with Privateness show off, is barely altered as in comparison with how the S25 Extremely’s pixels are arrayed.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely on the left and Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely on the appropriate. (Picture credit score: Future)
I’ve despatched Samsung the picture and requested for remark. I am going to replace this put up with their reply.
What I feel we could have here’s a affordable tradeoff: an virtually imperceptible display adjustment on brightness (and possibly coloration saturation) for a strong and at the moment unmatched cell phone privateness software.
I’ve suffered zero eyestrain utilizing the Galaxy S26 Extremely and stand by my authentic evaluation. It is nonetheless the very best Android on the market. That mentioned, Samsung ought to step ahead and description precisely what the Privateness show know-how does or doesn’t do to the display in default mode and tackle the small modifications in display brightness.
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