Samsung says Galaxy S26 Ultra red spot is a software issue

Samsung says the red spot some users have seen in the center of the Galaxy S26 Ultra display is not burn-in. According to the company, the issue is caused by software behavior rather than a panel defect, which means it can be fixed without replacing the screen.

Reports began appearing 3–4 months after people started using the phone. Owners feared the reddish area in the middle of the screen was OLED burn-in.

After analyzing affected devices, Samsung Electronics said the problem is linked to Privacy Display, a new technology used for the first time in the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The feature is based on LEAD 2.0, which is designed to improve the OLED panel’s power efficiency and color reproduction by removing the polarizer.

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Samsung said that at maximum brightness and under strong external lighting, color balance can shift, producing the reddish tint users noticed. The company has already prepared a software optimization for color correction and has started installing the update for users who visit service centers.

Samsung said the fix is expected to become available to all Galaxy S26 Ultra owners later on.