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Don't replace your Galaxy S26 Ultra just yet — Samsung has a fix

Samsung says the root cause of this display-related problem has already been found.

By Polina Kovalakova

Published: Jul 17, 2026, 1:49 AM

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Galaxy S26 Ultra is held by a person who shows the home screen with apps.

The display issue may soon be resolved. | Image by PhoneArena

Just a few days ago, we reported that some Galaxy S26 Ultra owners were "seeing red" on their phone's display. The strange red tint issue appears to have affected enough users for Samsung to investigate, and now, not only the cause but also a solution may have been found.

Samsung says it's not a hardware issue

This is the issue in question. | Image by Reddit user Equivalent_Rip_1073

While reports on the issue were first reported on Reddit just a few days ago, some South Korean outlets said Samsung was already investigating the problem. In a fresh report, News1 (source in Korean) reveals that the company has already determined the red tint display problem isn't hardware-related.

This is especially good news as it was easy to assume the issue was somehow related to the phone's Privacy Display. Since the feature works by controlling how the display's pixels emit light, it was easy to assume it could somehow be linked to the red tint issue.

Samsung has also reportedly said that the issue can be resolved quickly through a software update. However, at least for now, the company is providing the firmware update only to users who visit repair centers, with a wider rollout expected to come soon.

Changes in color balance may occur when exposed to strong lighting at maximum brightness. Since this is not a hardware issue, the problem can be resolved by optimizing the color correction software.

Samsung Electronics official (machine translated)

What do you think about Samsung's solution?

A familiar problem in the flagship world

This Pixel 10 Pro display problem seems way worse if you ask me. | Image by Ok-Camera-746

A quick search online shows Samsung isn't alone in dealing with display-related issues. In the r/GooglePixel subreddit, several Pixel 10 owners say they're seeing purple horizontal lines across all or part of the display in some situations. The problem appears to be spread across the Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and Pixel 10 Pro XL.

The difference, at least for the time being, is that Samsung says a solution has been found.

Still, flagship phone owners expect more. In our recent survey, most of you said you'd ask for a replacement if your S26 Ultra developed the red tint issue. The results suggest that people still want flagships; they're just not willing to compromise while spending flagship prices. And that's more than fair.

Is the solution good enough, though?

While it's admirable that Samsung has already identified the problem and prepared a solution, the current approach doesn't seem ideal. If the tech giant knows users are experiencing this issue, why not make the software fix available as soon as possible instead of requiring affected owners to visit a repair center first?

Hopefully, this will happen soon enough and put the red tint display issue to rest once and for all.

Good job, Samsung

Hopefully, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will be flawless for everyone from now on. | Image by PhoneArena

While I'm not enthusiastic about how Samsung is currently fixing affected devices, there may be a reason behind this approach. At the end of the day, identifying the root cause of such problems is key because, let's face it, users can quickly lose confidence in a device if they frequently have to deal with similar issues.

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Polina Kovalakova, a News and Affiliate Content Writer, has nurtured a passion for mobile technology since the era before smartphones. With a history of exploring a variety of devices, her insights into the mobile world are both broad and nuanced. Polina's non-partisan view extends to appreciating nearly every smartphone brand, a reflection of her open-minded approach to technology. Polina is equally passionate about uncovering the best online deals, tirelessly working to ensure her readers snag top-tier tech at unbeatable prices.

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