Key Takeaways
1. The Galaxy S26 series is set to launch in February 2026, with unchanged battery size at 5,000 mAh but improved charging speed expected.
2. The 3x telephoto lens may see a downgrade in sensor size, moving from a 12 MP IMX754 to a smaller 12 MP ISOCELL S5K3LD, potentially limiting image quality improvements.
3. Samsung is likely to continue using only 10 MP of the 12 MP sensor for the 3x telephoto lens, relying on software enhancements rather than hardware upgrades for image quality.
4. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will feature larger apertures for its main camera (F/1.4) and 5x telephoto lens (F/2.9), allowing for significantly better light intake and brighter images.
5. Improvements in automatic settings and new software features, along with an upgraded ISP, are expected to enhance photo and video quality, particularly in low light conditions, despite minor hardware changes.
There’s been a lot of buzz recently about what Samsung might put into the Galaxy S26 series, which is set to launch at the close of February 2026 as the follow-up to the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra. We have also pointed out the sometimes overly optimistic expectations from Samsung fans, which clash with what is already known from various certifications. For instance, the battery size, despite many hopes from the community, remains unchanged since the Galaxy S20 Ultra, likely staying at 5,000 mAh in 2026, although we can expect a clear improvement in charging speed.
Changes in Camera Specs
The 3x telephoto lens, which has long been a weak spot for the Galaxy S series due to its small 1/3.52-inch sensor, is reportedly going to be replaced. However, whether this is really an upgrade is still uncertain. Trustworthy sources like Ice Universe hinted months back that there could actually be a downgrade regarding sensor size. The current 12 MP IMX754 is expected to be swapped out for a 12 MP ISOCELL S5K3LD, which is even smaller at 1/3.94 inches. According to the leaker’s recent post on X, there’s no space for a larger sensor when looking at the leaked CAD images, which show a slightly thinner design than the Galaxy S25 Ultra and are deemed reliable.
Improvements on the Horizon
Moreover, Samsung seems to be continuing its trend of effectively utilizing only 10 MP of the 12 MP sensor in the 3x telephoto lens and then enhancing the final image to 12 MP. Therefore, it seems unlikely that we will see major breakthroughs or enhancements in image quality from the sensor itself, aside from some software tweaks. The primary upgrade for the Galaxy S26 Ultra could focus on light intake. Ice Universe summarized the specs for all four cameras on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, highlighting the differences:
Both the 200 MP main camera and the 5x telephoto lens feature a notably larger aperture, allowing more light to hit the sensor. The main camera’s aperture improvement from F/1.7 to F/1.4 translates to a 47% increase in light intake. For the 5x telephoto lens, the F/2.9 aperture of the periscope module is expected to yield a 38% brighter image, assuming consistent shutter speed and ISO settings.
Anticipated Benefits for Users
Thus, we can expect the automatic settings of these two Galaxy S26 Ultra cameras to adjust shutter speeds and ISO values accordingly, thanks to the larger aperture. This should lead to less noisy and crisper images, especially in dim lighting conditions. Coupled with various new software features and an improved ISP in the Exynos 2600 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, we can surely anticipate better photo and video quality with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, even if there are likely to be disappointingly minor changes to the sensor hardware.
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