Samsung has exclusively used Corning’s Gorilla Armor glass on its Ultra flagships for the past two years. The Galaxy S24 Ultra debuted with Gorilla Armor, and Samsung followed it up in 2025 by upgrading the Galaxy S25 Ultra to the newer Gorilla Armor 2. Continuing that trend, Samsung will use a newer-gen Gorilla Glass on the S26 Ultra this year, one that will supposedly kill screen protectors for good.

The Gorilla Glass on the S24 and S25 Ultra stands out for more than just its anti-reflective coating, which significantly cuts down glare and improves outdoor visibility. It uses ceramic cover material for added toughness and scratch-resistance.

Thanks to this, the glass scratches at level eight on the Mohs hardness scale, two tiers better than the Gorilla Victus 2 found on the S23 series.

With the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung and Corning will apparently take things up a level. Leaker Ice Universe claims the new Corning cover glass on the S26 Ultra will solve all the problems that once required using screen protectors “directly at the glass level.”

Typically, most users put a tempered screen protector on their phone’s display for added protection and to prevent micro-scratches. While the previous two Corning Armor glasses already improve on this aspect, Samsung and Corning will further build on that foundation to offer an even more durable experience. Plus, the S26 Ultra’s rumored new Privacy Guard feature could eliminate the need for privacy films altogether.

Ironically, Samsung itself sells official screen protectors for the Galaxy S25 lineup. So, the leaker’s claims of the S26 Ultra’s cover glass killing screen protectors might be exaggerated. It may reduce the need for added protection, but it’s unlikely to eliminate screen protectors entirely.

Galaxy S26 Ultra will only extend Samsung’s display technology lead

Samsung has long used top-notch displays as a key selling point for its flagship Ultra phones. Almost two years after the S24 Ultra’s debut, the iPhone 17 is the only other smartphone to feature an anti-reflective glass. And even then, its anti-reflective properties are not as good as Samsung’s.

If the rumors are accurate, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will only widen that gap, further cementing Samsung’s lead in this segment.