Camera changes are usually front and center for any new phone launch, particularly when it comes to flagship releases. So why do the leaked details about the Galaxy S26 cameras feel so underwhelming?
Certainly, Samsung has a strong track record when it comes to producing the best camera phones. The current Galaxy S25 lineup features some top-performing cameras — especially the Galaxy S25 Ultra with its powerful 200MP main camera and stellar telephoto lens setup.
The trouble is the details that have emerged so far about Samsung’s follow-up phones seem to suggest the company will stay the course with the Galaxy S26 lineup. A lot of leaked specs showing off the different models — a standard Galaxy S26, along with new Plus and Ultra versions — show very little in the way of changes when it comes to camera setups.
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1. No megapixel changes
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
Leakers have gone back and forth on this potential change, but after well-regard tipster Ice Universe posted specs for all three rumored Galaxy S26 models, it doesn’t sound like the new phones are changing the megapixel ratings from what the Galaxy S25 had to offer.
Swipe to scroll horizontallyRow 0 – Cell 0
Main camera
Ultrawide camera
Telephoto camera
Front camera
Galaxy S25
50MP
12MP
10MP 3x
12MP
Galaxy S26 (rumored)
50MP
12MP
10MP 3x
12MP
Galaxy S25 Plus
50MP
12MP
10MP 3x
12MP
Galaxy S6 Plus (rumored)
50MP
12MP
10MP 3x
12MP
Galaxy S25 Ultra
200MP(f/1.7)
50MP
10MP 3x ( (1/3.52” sensor), 50MP 5x
12MP
Galaxy S26 Ultra (rumored)
200MP(f/1.4)
50MP
10MP 3x ( 1/3.94” sensor), 50MP 5x
12MP
That wasn’t always the expectation. Early on, rumors suggested the ultrawide camera on the Galaxy S26 might get a bump up to 50MP — the S25 features a 12MP ultrawide lens. Other rumors had raised the possibility of the 3x zoom lens on the Galaxy S26 Ultra getting a megapixel bump to 12MP, but it looks like the 10MP lens will return to this year’s model.
Megapixels aren’t everything, of course, as there’s more than one way to improve camera output beyond just pumping up resolution. But given the current trend among Galaxy S26 rumors, expect the coming models to share a lot with their predecessors.
2. Bigger sensors
(Image credit: Future)
Megapixels may stay the same on the Galaxy S26 models, but the same may not be true of the sensors that power some of the cameras. Specifically, the Galaxy S26 (and presumably the Galaxy S26 Plus) may still feature a 50MP main camera, but that sensor could be physically larger than the one on the equivalent S25 models.
Different sensors can an impact on image quality, as larger ones are usually capable of capturing more light and detail. That could mean improved photos in general for the Galaxy S26, especially in low light settings.
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Similarly, one of the telephoto cameras on the Galaxy S26 Ultra may benefit from an increased sensor size of its own. That could improve the quality of zoom shots taken by Samsung’s premium phone.
3. A bigger aperture for the Ultra
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Earlier Ultra rumors teased the return of a variable aperture to Samsung’s top phone, though talk of that feature seems to have fallen by the wayside. Instead, current signs point to a wider aperture for the Ultra’s main camera.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra features an f/1.7 aperture for its 200MP main camera. Reportedly, that’s widening to f/1.4 on the S26 Ultra. The end result should be a camera that takes in more light — helpful in darkened rooms and as the sun is setting — to produce clear images. We’d also expect a shallower depth of field from an f/1.4 lens.
4. Upgraded image signal processor
(Image credit: Future)
There’s some dispute as to which system-on-chip will power which Galaxy S26 models. While Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 silicon figures to take a primary role, particularly when it comes to the Galaxy S26 Elite, reports claim Samsung may turn to its Exynos 2600 chipset for some S25 models.
Regardless of which chip Samsung winds up using, the Galaxy S25 figures to benefit from an improved image signal processor (ISP), the part of the system on chip that handles photo processing.
The Snapdragon’s Spectra ISP promises better dynamic range for photos and improved video capture capabilities — on that latter front, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5-powered devices are capable of producing near-lossless video quality. Meanwhile, rumored ISP changes on the Exynos 2600 include a new HDR engine and the ability to capture 8K video at 60 fps and 4K video at 120 fps. There’s also talk of a stabilization system that relies on both optical image stabilization and AI.
In other words, the chipsets that find their way into the Galaxy S26 lineup are going to deliver more than just CPU and GPU boosts; they’ll also impact image capture and processing.
5. The AI push continues
(Image credit: Future)
Hardware details leak a lot more easily than software announcements do, which is while we’re still guessing as to what new Galaxy AI improvements will come to the S26 lineup and how they might impact image capture and editing. Given Samsung’s focus on AI with the past two Galaxy S releases, it’s a safe bet that something is coming to the Galaxy S26.
The Galaxy S25 launch earlier this year introduced such camera-centric AI features as Audio Eraser for removing unwanted sounds from the videos you capture. We also saw improvements to existing features that let you remove objects from images, turn sketches into images and performer other generative edits. Expect the Galaxy S26 to get its own suite of tools, even if we still have to guess as to what those tools may be.
Galaxy S26 camera outlook
So no, these aren’t going to be revolutionary changes to the Galaxy S26 cameras, barring some last-minute rumor. But they should deliver some kind of improvements to image capture and editing that will make Samsung’s latest phones worth comparing to the latest from Apple and Google.
We’ll likely get the definitive word in a month or two, possibly as soon as January if the most optimistic projection of the Galaxy S26 release date proves accurate.
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