Samsung has maintained a consistent approach with the camera on its Ultra flagship models over the past few years, notably with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. This device continues to feature the 200MP HP2 sensor and a fast f/1.7 aperture that debuted with the Galaxy S23 Ultra in 2023. Looking ahead, it appears that Samsung plans to retain the same primary camera for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, although it will introduce a significant enhancement: a larger aperture.
According to leaker Ice Universe, the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra will incorporate a wider aperture lens alongside the existing HP2 sensor. This change is expected to significantly improve the light-gathering capability of the camera, particularly enhancing image quality in low-light scenarios. This would be the most substantial upgrade to the primary camera on Samsung’s Ultra flagship since the Galaxy S20 Ultra, as the wider aperture is anticipated to boost overall performance.
However, a wider aperture often brings certain trade-offs, such as potential softness and blurriness around the edges of images, as well as a shallow depth of field in close-up shots, which can leave some subject details out of focus. It remains unclear how Samsung intends to address these challenges while improving image clarity. In comparison to competitors like Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo, which utilize larger 1-inch sensors for their primary cameras, Samsung’s recent flagship models have struggled to compete in terms of imaging capabilities.
By adopting a wider aperture in the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung may finally begin to narrow this gap. In addition to camera enhancements, Ice Universe has shared information regarding other specifications of the Galaxy S26 Ultra. These include a retained 5,000mAh battery with the potential for faster 60W wired charging—the highest ever on a Galaxy device—and the integration of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 ‘for Galaxy’ chip with an impressive peak clock speed of 4.74GHz.
Remarkably, all these upgrades are expected to come in a slimmer design, making the Galaxy S26 Ultra a potential standout release in years to come.
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