Key Takeaways
1. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s camera score improved from 151 to 157, but it ranks 18th overall, behind competitors like the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL.
2. Key camera specifications include a 200 MP main camera with improved aperture, a 50 MP ultra-wide camera, and a 50 MP periscope telephoto camera, with some features carried over from the S25 Ultra.
3. The camera has a limited focus distance of 52 centimeters, which is double that of its predecessor, impacting close-up shots.
4. The Galaxy S26 Ultra excels in white balance accuracy, dynamic range, and video stabilization, with good detail in macro photography.
5. Despite improvements, low-light performance still shows noticeable noise, inconsistent auto-exposure, and issues with detail and autofocus in portrait mode.
The in-depth camera evaluation from DxOMark for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra ($1,299 on Amazon) has arrived, revealing that Samsung has indeed made enhancements to the camera system when compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, with the score increasing from 151 to 157. Nevertheless, this improvement only secures the 18th position on the chart, trailing behind the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (161 points), the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL (163 points), and the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra (175 points).
Camera Specifications
The slight upgrade isn’t unexpected, considering Samsung has maintained the 50 MP f/1.9 ultra-wide-angle camera featuring a 1/2.5-inch sensor and the 10 MP f/2.4 telephoto camera with triple zoom and a 1/3.52-inch sensor from the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The main camera boasts a 200 MP resolution with a 1/1.3-inch sensor, which benefits from a quicker lens with an aperture shift from f/1.7 to f/1.4, while the 50 MP periscope telephoto camera with a 1/2.52-inch sensor sees an enhancement from f/3.4 to f/2.9.
Focusing Limitations
On the downside, the camera’s focus distance is limited to objects that are at least 52 centimeters away, roughly doubling the minimum focus distance. Despite this, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra shines in several areas during the camera evaluation, thanks to its largely accurate white balance, expansive dynamic range, and effective video stabilization. Furthermore, macro photographs are captured with impressive detail.
Performance Issues
While the main camera and periscope telephoto camera exhibit reduced image noise due to the higher-quality lenses, noticeable noise persists in low-light situations. The auto-exposure feature does not perform consistently under various conditions. In portrait mode, DxOMark points out that faces tend to lack fine detail, and the autofocus struggles to consistently target a person’s eyes accurately.
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