Samsung confirmed the existence of its new Galaxy Z Fold 8 series via regulatory filings this week, clearing the final hurdle before its official release date. But a new leak from a reliable Samsung tipster suggests that the Korean company’s 2026 foldables won’t include the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s best feature, despite the expected high price.
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No Privacy Display For The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8
Samsung tipster Ice Universe, who has a good track record, claims that the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8 will not come with the privacy display. The feature is currently exclusive to the Galaxy S26 Ultra and it looks like it will stay that way if Ice Universe is right.
The confirmation comes directly from Ice Universe on X today, responding to a question from a Korean user about whether the Fold 8 would come equipped with the feature. “The Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Flip 8 do not have privacy screens,” they said.
For the uninitiated, those privacy screens you buy from Amazon for your phone or laptop? Samsung has built that into the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s display at a hardware level by including a filter layer that acts like tiny vertical blinds sitting inside the panel itself, which physically blocks light from travelling sideways.
The filter can be adjusted, from hazy to full black out. It can be localised too, for example if you only want your pin code or certain notifications protected. This all works surprisingly well, check out my video of it in action here.
It is, quietly, the best thing about the Galaxy S26 Ultra because it’s entirely new technology that solves a genuine problem: a distinct lack of privacy when using a phone with a giant screen. This may be Londoner bias but being crammed into the Central Line like sardines while using my phone, while knowing that only I can see the screen, has been a welcome privacy upgrade.
But the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, both of which have even bigger tablet-like screens, won’t get that feature.
That’s a notable omission for a phone expected to match or exceed the S26 Ultra on almost every other specification. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is expected to carry a 200MP camera, significantly enhanced screen resolution, and a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset.
And, of course, a likely higher price. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 launched at $1999.99 in the U.S. before the recent price rises, the Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at $1,299.
Paying $700 more (presuming the Fold 8 price doesn’t go up) for fewer features has always been the case with foldable phones. But to pay that extra and miss out on one of Samsung’s best hardware inventions in years would be a bitter pill to swallow.
What Does This Mean For The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra Price?
The missing privacy screen won’t make the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra any cheaper. It seems that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide will be the entry level book-shaped foldable phone because the leaked specs are more modest.
Whereas for the Ultra model, Ice Universe has previously reported that it will have a “significantly enhanced” screen resolution, and a new 50MP ultrawide camera. Two new hardware upgrades for the series that suggests this is very much the top-end of Samsung’s product line.
Perhaps adding in a privacy screen would push the price too far. There’s also a possibility that it’s not possible on the ultra-thin-glass used on a foldable display. Or maybe Samsung decided a privacy screen makes less sense on the tall, narrow cover display than it does on the S26 Ultra’s full-width panel.
Either way, don’t expect a cheap phone. As I have mentioned before, I asked a Samsung rep about putting Galaxy S26 U.K. prices up and I got an answer back about how much buyers are getting for the phone, specifically the privacy display. That spin might be employed again to justify a higher Galaxy Z Fold price. We’ll know more at Samsung Unpacked next month.
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