SAMSUNG

Galaxy S26 Ultra: new Gorilla Glass could kill screen protectors

There are rituals that are part of buying a new smartphone: opening the box, turning on the device and, almost religiously, applying a tempered glass screen protector to protect the $1,000 investment. Samsung may be about to end this habit. New rumors indicate that the future Galaxy S26 Ultra will come equipped with a completely new generation of Gorilla Glass, so resistant that it could make screen protectors obsolete.

The information, revealed by renowned leaker Ice Universe, points to a "high-resistance" glass that not only protects against drops, but integrates technologies that replace the functional screen protectors that many users buy.

Samsung's strategy is not just to make the glass harder; it's to make it smarter. The S26 Ultra seems to be the culmination of an approach that began with the S24 Ultra.

Extreme Durability: The new generation of Gorilla Glass promises impact and scratch resistance superior to anything seen so far. The goal is to give the user the confidence to use the phone "naked," without fear of keys in their pocket or accidental drops.

Native Anti-Glare: Like its predecessors, the S26 Ultra will retain the integrated anti-glare coating. This eliminates the need for matte films, ensuring visibility in sunlight without the loss of sharpness that third-party films cause.

Integrated Privacy: Joining previous rumors about a "Privacy Display," Samsung may be embedding protection against prying eyes directly into the panel. If the screen goes black for those looking askance, privacy films no longer make sense.

If Samsung manages to deliver on this promise, it will be a hard blow to the accessories industry. Tempered glass screen protectors are a multi-million dollar business, living off users' fear of breaking their screens.

By addressing durability, reflection, and privacy at the material level, Samsung offers a cleaner user experience:

No bubbles: No more application stress.

Perfect Touch: No extra layers reducing sensitivity.

Pure Aesthetics: The phone's design shines without additional plastics.

Technical advancements also include a new anti-reflective coating. Compared to the current Gorilla Armor 2 on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the new generation promises even greater visual clarity in outdoor environments, eliminating problems caused by direct sunlight.

This change represents a significant generational leap. While current glass is already resistant, Samsung seeks to address the optical limitations that tempered glass films often cause, such as loss of sensitivity in the fingerprint reader and reduced color fidelity.

If confirmed, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will be the first device to offer military-grade protection, privacy filter, and advanced optical treatment in a single piece of glass. The line is scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2026.

Trust vs. reality...The big question will be psychological. Will consumers trust glass, however "Gorilla" it may be, to protect such a high investment? The fear of breaking the screen is deeply ingrained. However, if Samsung aggressively markets this feature as a "screen protector replacement," it could change market behavior.

With a launch scheduled for February 2026 and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 engine confirmed, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is positioning itself as the most rugged and complete smartphone of the year.

mundophone