Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra rumoured to adopt next-gen Gorilla Glass with three major upgrades

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (starting at approx. $1,050 on Amazon) comes equipped with Gorilla Glass Armor 2. As one of the highest-quality display covers available, it not only offers exceptional scratch and impact resistance but also effectively reduces reflections caused by ambient light. The highly reliable leaker Ice Universe recently claimed that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will feature a next-generation Gorilla Glass.

The new glass reportedly introduces improvements in three key areas. First, Colour Filter on Encapsulation (COE) technology eliminates the need for an external polariser, allowing for a thinner, more power-efficient display that is even less reflective. Second, the surface of the cover glass is even harder and thus less prone to scratches. Third, the glass enables Samsung’s upcoming Privacy Display. As shown in a previously leaked animation, activating this mode drastically narrows the display’s viewing angles, preventing people nearby from peeking at your screen from the sides.

Ice Universe also suggested the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could render all kinds of screen protectors obsolete. The extremely scratch-resistant glass surface wouldn’t require additional protection, and matt or privacy screen protectors would no longer be needed due to the reduced reflectivity and the rumoured privacy feature. Even so, the screen protector market may still survive because many consumers are likely to continue purchasing them for their expensive flagship phones despite these improvements.