“The person next to me can’t see my screen?” ... Samsung technology catches the eye of U.S. magazine TIME

[Financial News] Samsung Electronics’ smartphone, refrigerator and gaming monitor have been named to U.S. weekly news magazine TIME’s “Best Inventions of 2026” list. The products were recognized for technologies that make everyday life more convenient, including a display that makes it difficult for someone nearby to peek at the screen, artificial intelligence (AI) that recognizes food ingredients, and an ultra-high-resolution gaming display.
Samsung Electronics said on the 16th that the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Bespoke AI Refrigerator with AI Family Hub+, and Odyssey G8 gaming monitor were included in TIME’s “Best Inventions of 2026,” announced on the 15th (local time). They were selected in the consumer electronics, home appliances, and entertainment and gaming categories, respectively.
Each year, TIME selects products and ideas that change everyday life as its Best Inventions, evaluating their originality, effectiveness, ambition and impact based in part on recommendations from editors and correspondents around the world.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra drew attention for its screen privacy feature. TIME described it as “a smartphone focused on privacy” and highlighted its Privacy Display as a key strength, saying it effectively blocks people from viewing the screen from the side.
Users can set when the feature turns on or apply it only to specific content, such as pop-up notifications. It can be used more flexibly depending on the situation than a separate privacy screen protector.
The Ultra, the top model in the Samsung Galaxy S26 series launched in March, also supports Galaxy AI features such as Now Nudge, which identifies users’ situations and intentions and proactively suggests information they may need. Its 200-megapixel wide-angle camera and wider aperture than the previous model also improve photography in low-light conditions.
The Bespoke AI Refrigerator with AI Family Hub+ was recognized for its AI Vision feature, which automatically identifies and manages food ingredients using an internal camera. Samsung Electronics first introduced the feature in Family Hub in 2024 and has since continued to advance the related technology.
Users can check the list of food ingredients stored in the refrigerator through the SmartThings app. AI Food Manager helps track expiration dates and provide personalized recipes. The 32-inch screen on the front of the product offers features including a calendar, web browser, weather, photos and music.
The 32-inch Odyssey G8 was recognized as the first gaming monitor to support 6K resolution. It features Dual Mode, which lets users choose image quality and refresh rate based on the game genre and usage environment.
Users can select 6K resolution at 165Hz when detailed visuals are needed, or 3K resolution at 330Hz for games where fast movement is important. The monitor also features HDR10+ Gaming, which analyzes game scenes and frames to adjust picture quality.
[email protected] Yoon Hong-jip Reporter