When Samsung unveiled Privacy Display with the Galaxy S26 Ultra earlier this year, I was hoping it would arrive quickly on the foldables. The company has now confirmed that neither the Flip 8 nor the Galaxy Z Fold 8 (including the Ultra variant) will include the feature, and after a week of reflection following Unpacked in London, I actually think its absence might be for the best.
What the absence of Privacy Display really changes
Privacy Display is a screen option designed to narrow viewing angles, but a recent report suggests integrating it adds roughly 10% to manufacturing costs compared with a standard OLED panel. On already expensive devices like the Fold, even a relatively modest increase in component cost can translate into a noticeable rise in retail price — and into higher repair bills.
Cost and repairability: why Samsung may have held back
Foldable displays are among the most expensive components to replace. Last year, replacing a Galaxy Z Fold 7 screen without Samsung Care+ was estimated at around €761 / $890, excluding labor and other fees. That figure isn’t a strict manufacturing cost, but it highlights how costly these devices already are — and how adding pricier panels could further inflate both the purchase price and repair costs.
