I participated in Unpacked, the event in San Francisco where Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S26 series, as someone firmly rooted in the Apple ecosystem with my iPhone, iPad, AirPods, and MacBook at hand. My intention was to report on the launch, not to be influenced by an Android device.

Surprisingly, the Galaxy S26 Ultra made a strong case for transitioning to Samsung. Spending time with this premium device at Unpacked altered my viewpoint.

While the S26 Ultra’s sleekness and weight are impressive, and the “cobalt violet” hue matches my tastes, these factors alone weren’t sufficient to lead me to leave my 17-year association with iPhones. The Ultra’s remarkable camera specifications didn’t sway me either. At first, I believed the slim 3-camera cutout was better than the hefty bump on the iPhone 17, until I observed the Galaxy S26 Ultra tilting when placed screen-up on a flat surface. That clarified Apple’s design rationale.

What genuinely fascinated me was a privacy screen feature. It wasn’t the S26 Ultra’s “shoulder surfing” prevention, but the capability to confine the privacy screen to notifications only that piqued my interest.

In busy environments, “shoulder surfing” can indeed pose a risk, but more frequently, we want to share something from our screens without exposing personal messages. Many have perfected the skill of overlooking private notifications that appear on a friend’s device during such situations or remembering to switch on “Do Not Disturb.”

Samsung’s ability to shield parts of the display from unwanted viewing is revolutionary. As depicted in the image, even a minor tilt greys out notifications, enhancing privacy. A further tilt completely conceals notifications, similar to a heavily redacted file.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s privacy configurations are incredibly adaptable, permitting users to select which apps consistently receive privacy screen treatment. This is crucial for banking applications, and likely others you might consider. The ability to customize is paramount.

Is this customizable privacy aspect sufficient to prompt my switch to Samsung? As an avid iPhone user, the response is “maybe.” This should encourage Apple to respond, presuming they aren’t already working on a comparable feature for the iPhone 18.

The decision now lies with you, Tim Cook.