We don’t think about it much on a day-to-day basis, but Android has numerous software protections in place to keep our devices safe. While you can download and install apps on your own, the majority of folks will head to the Google Play Store. Not only are these apps screened, but Google also works to remove offending apps to prevent harm.
Google Play Protect is a big part of this, ensuring that your device remains safe when downloading apps or using important services. So, as you can imagine, not having Play Protect in place on your device could raise some flags, which is apparently what’s happening with some Galaxy S26 users.
Not a good way to start off
The report comes from 9to5Google, with the news outlet shedding light on the issue that is plaguing some Galaxy S26 owners. The complaints are coming from Reddit, with users chiming in that their Samsung Galaxy S26 isn’t Play Protected.
It’s unclear at this point why this is happening, considering that these are brand-new devices and should have the latest software. But, it needs to be said that these devices aren’t supposed to officially be available until March 11.
But some devices are getting into hands a little earlier due to the preorder process, and there could even be an update that goes live on day one in order to fix the smaller issues. However, folks are also reporting that the problem goes away after a reboot.
With that said, it’s unclear why this is happening at the moment, but we don’t think this is going to be a huge issue that blows up. Samsung is usually pretty good about getting software issues like these fixed quickly. As mentioned before, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series will be making its retail debut on March 11.
If you’re interested in something new, we recommend checking them out. They won’t be the most exciting devices to drop this year, but Samsung has been making solid and reliable products for a few years now. We think you’ll be happy with what they have to offer.
- SoC
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- Display type
-
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Display dimensions
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6.9-inch
- Display resolution
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3120 x 1440
- RAM
-
12GB / 16GB
- Storage
-
256GB / 512GB / 1TB
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a world-first new feature called the Privacy Display, which hides the phone screen from prying eyes. The phone is lighter, thinner, and more powerful than its predecessor.
