Key Takeaways
1. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to feature a new 200MP periscope telephoto camera, with various camera configurations being tested.
2. The telephoto setup will include a 50MP sensor, replacing the previous 10MP sensor, with improved focal lengths (3.5X zoom).
3. The 50MP sensor may utilize 4-1 pixel binning to produce 12.5MP images, allowing for 8K video recording from the telephoto lens.
4. The periscope telephoto will have an upgraded 8X magnification compared to the previous model’s 5X, while maintaining a 50MP resolution.
5. The ultrawide camera remains unchanged, but the main sensor will feature a variable aperture mechanism, and Samsung is still exploring various specifications.
Samsung seems to be gearing up for a significant specification update for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, especially after two previous Ultra models that didn’t see many design or spec changes. A recent leak indicates that a prototype of the S26 Ultra features a single 200MP periscope telephoto camera. Now, the newest leak implies that Samsung is testing various camera configurations for the forthcoming Ultra device.
New Camera Features
The first telephoto camera now features a 50MP sensor. According to tipster @SiddhantGeek, another prototype of the Galaxy S26 Ultra retains the dual-telephoto setup, but the focal lengths have been altered. The original 3X telephoto lens has been swapped out for a 3.5X one, a change we’ve observed from some Chinese manufacturers recently. What’s particularly intriguing is the inclusion of the larger 50MP sensor, which reportedly measures 1/3.15″, with a pixel size of 0.56um. In comparison, the existing 10MP sensor measures 1/3.52″ and has a pixel size of 1.12µm.
Enhancements in Image Quality
Despite the smaller native pixel size of the 50MP sensor, it will probably use 4-1 pixel binning to capture images at 12.5MP, which aims to compensate for the smaller pixels. This higher resolution, exceeding 33MP, allows the phone to shoot in 8K from the 3.5X telephoto lens. However, the ability to activate this feature and fine-tune image processing will ultimately rest with Samsung.
Details on Periscope Telephoto and More
In terms of the periscope telephoto, it now boasts an 8X magnification, an upgrade from the 5X of the S25 Ultra. The new sensor also maintains a 50MP resolution but is slightly reduced in size at 1/2.76″ (down from 1/2.52″), possibly to reduce the camera module’s protrusion. For those who might not know, both a bigger sensor and longer zoom range contribute to a larger protrusion of the camera module, so a smaller sensor can help balance the increased zoom range while minimizing the protrusion.
The ultrawide camera remains unchanged from the S25 Ultra in this prototype, although the main sensor features a variable aperture mechanism ranging from F/1.4 to 4.0. That being said, Samsung is likely still experimenting with various specifications and has plenty of time to enhance or even remove some of the aforementioned features. More details about the development are expected as we approach the launch.
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