Ever since the Galaxy S24 Ultra introduced Corning’s near-revolutionary Gorilla Armor anti-reflective display, fans have been waiting for the technology to trickle down to Samsung’s other premium models. The assumption was simple — once Samsung proved that the tech worked, it would eventually standardize it across the lineup. Has that happened this year? Unfortunately, no.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra does feature Corning’s Gorilla Armor 2 display protection, so thankfully, it hasn't suffered any downgrades. However, the base Galaxy S26 and the Galaxy S26+ once again rely on Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

The latter is the same solution Samsung has used for its non-Ultra flagships since 2023. Nothing has changed for three generations straight. And yes, Victus 2 works, but it's nothing spectacular and lacks those impressive anti-reflective properties you'll enjoy with the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

On paper, this might not sound like a major compromise. All three Galaxy S26 models reach similar peak brightness levels of 2,600 nits. Under typical indoor lighting, they look equally vibrant and sharp. Color reproduction is excellent across the board, and visibility in most everyday scenarios is not an issue.

Nevertheless, thanks to Gorilla Armor 2’s advanced anti-reflective properties, the Galaxy S26 Ultra handles glare far better in direct sunlight or brightly lit environments. Reflections are noticeably reduced, and text remains clearer without forcing your eyes to work harder.

It is more than a subtle improvement once you see the phones side by side. The S26 Ultra's screen looks cleaner and more readable in bright conditions. And once you see the contrast, you'll have a harder time accepting Samsung's decision to keep Gorilla Armor exclusive to the Ultra model.

To be fair, this does not mean you will struggle with the Galaxy S26 or S26+. If you were satisfied with the Galaxy S23, S24, or S25, you will likely be satisfied here as well. Victus 2 is durable and more than suitable in most situations.

But perhaps the more frustrating part is the competitive angle. Apple’s entire iPhone 17 lineup includes an anti-reflective screen treatment, even on the base model. While Apple’s solution may not match Gorilla Armor 2 in effectiveness, it still addresses glare in a way Samsung’s standard S26 models do not. It's better than nothing.

And because Apple is doing it already, it feels harder than ever to justify Samsung's decision to omit this technology in two of its three premium Galaxy phones released this year so far.