But the company appears to be investigating the discoloration defect internally.
If you’re a regular on social media discussing Samsung smartphones, you’ve probably heard about strange behavior on the Galaxy S26 Ultra screens. Some owners of this model have reported that the phone’s screen takes on a reddish tint. In photos posted online, some devices appear to develop a pink rectangle in the center of the screens.
It’s unclear how widespread this defect might be. Some complaints date back to March, shortly after the device was released. Most of the newer articles claim that the red color began to appear gradually after several months of use, or that people observed it on demo models in stores. We checked the S26 Ultra unit we reviewed in the spring and saw no change in color.
This type of display issue may seem like a trick of the light, but Samsung has confirmed that there is something going on, although it’s not yet sure why. On Monday, the company told the Korean site Newsway that it is “reviewing the matter internally to confirm the cause.” We’ve reached out to Samsung directly for additional comment and will update this post if we receive a response.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is Samsung’s only smartphone currently on the market with Privacy Display, so some speculation has suggested that this could be the cause. Privacy Display impressed us in our review for its ability to block over-the-shoulder surveillance with almost no change in what the phone user sees, but some buyers had to return their devices after experiencing a range of symptoms including eye strain, headaches, nausea, and dizziness while using the S26 Ultra. It is also possible that this lack of redness is a form of burn or that it is caused by another environmental cause. We may not know for sure until Samsung has more to say on the subject.
