Xiaomi is bringing a Privacy Display to its phones — no special hardware needed
Xiaomi is preparing a Privacy Display feature for its smartphones, set to arrive with the HyperOS 4 update in July or August 2026. Unlike Samsung's version — exclusive to the Galaxy S26 Ultra and built into custom display hardware — Xiaomi's implementation is software-only, which means it should work across a much broader range of devices. Apple, meanwhile, has no Privacy Display on the roadmap for iPhones at all.
What it does
Privacy Display dims or blocks the screen from side angles, so someone next to you on the tube or in a café can't read your messages or see what app you're in. Samsung introduced the feature on the Galaxy S26 Ultra in March 2026 using a technology called Flex Magic Pixel, which uses two types of subpixels — one set switches off when viewed from the side. The effect is a screen that looks normal head-on but dark from any other angle.
Xiaomi is working on a Samsung's Privacy Display like feature
— Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh) May 26, 2026
It will launch with the new HyperOS 4 later this year.
Xiaomi's approach skips the custom panel. Insider Yogesh Brar reported the feature will roll out as part of HyperOS 4, meaning it's handled at the software level. That trade-off likely means the effect won't be quite as sharp as Samsung's hardware solution, but the upside is wider compatibility — potentially covering 14 or more Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices, according to Tech Advisor. Future flagship hardware may get dedicated screen support, but the software feature is coming first.
Apple is still sitting this out
Apple has not announced a Privacy Display for the iPhone. Its current research appears confined to a potential MacBook Pro rollout — and even that is at the patent-and-prototype stage, with a realistic timeline of 2027 at the earliest, per Android Headlines. Viral TikTok videos showing fake iPhone Privacy Displays have racked up over 10 million views, which says a lot about how much iPhone users want this — and how long they may still be waiting.
What to watch for
HyperOS 4 is expected to launch in July–August 2026. In the US and UK, compatible Xiaomi devices are available through Amazon and Currys, with a wider Q3 rollout anticipated. The confirmed device list hasn't been published yet, but if you own a Xiaomi 12 series or newer, your phone is a reasonable candidate. This is one feature Samsung can no longer call exclusive — and Xiaomi is making sure of that before the end of summer.
