Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra: A Conservative Camera Evolution Detailed in New Leak
A Glimpse into the Future Flagship
A new, unofficial report has surfaced, detailing the complete camera specifications for Samsung’s upcoming flagship, the Galaxy S26 Ultra. If the leaked information proves accurate, the future device from the Korean tech giant will not feature a major overhaul of its camera system, opting instead for a strategy of refinement over radical change.
Camera Setup: A Familiar Story
According to the report, which originated on the platform X, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will largely retain the core camera configuration of its predecessor, the S25 Ultra. The primary sensor is expected to remain a 200-megapixel HP2. This will reportedly be accompanied by a 50-megapixel JN3 ultrawide sensor, a 50-megapixel IMX854 periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel IMX874 front-facing camera for selfies.
The Lone Upgrade: Enhanced Telephoto Lens
The only significant hardware change appears to be confined to the 3x optical zoom telephoto lens. The leak suggests the older 10-megapixel sensor will be replaced with a new 12-megapixel Samsung sensor (model S5K3LD). This new telephoto lens is also anticipated to feature an f/2.4 aperture and a 20 percent increase in pixel count compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, promising a potential improvement in detail and low-light performance for mid-range zoom shots.
Advanced Video and Other Specs
The source also indicated that the device will support a new Samsung video recording format dubbed APV (Advanced Photo Video). This format is said to offer two modes: APV HQ, which consumes approximately 1.5 GB of storage per minute, and APV LQ, which reduces the file size to about 750 MB per minute.
While the source of this report cannot be fully verified, its claims align with another leak published in September. Regarding other specifications, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to be powered by the next-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite processor (a “For Galaxy” version) and house a 5500 mAh battery with support for 60-watt wired charging. It may also feature support for the newer Qi2 wireless charging standard. A separate report from yesterday suggested that the entire Galaxy S26 series could see a price increase due to rising costs for chipsets, cameras, and RAM.