Fans seeking more camera advancements are divided over a recent leak, even as Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S26 series in January 2026. Instead, it appears like one of the Ultra model’s telephoto lenses might be repositioned.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra might come with a 12MP (reduced to 10MP) 3x telephoto camera with a 1/3.94-inch sensor and 1.0µm pixels, according to leaker Ice Universe. On paper, that’s less than what the Galaxy S25 Ultra had, which was a Sony IMX754 sensor with a 1/3.52-inch size, 1.12µm pixels, and 12MP (cropped to 10MP) capabilities. Although the difference may not seem like much, sensor size and pixel pitch in camera technology directly affect the amount of light captured, which can affect low-light performance and detail.
The camera configuration seems to have remained mostly unaltered. Although competitors are gaining ground quickly, the S25 Ultra’s impressive 50MP 5x periscope telephoto (1/2.52-inch, 0.7µm, 111mm) is still competitive. While Sony’s new 200MP sensor is reported to be used in some upcoming Chinese “Ultra” flagships, Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro boasts a 48MP 5x telephoto. According to Ice Universe, Samsung considered alternative options, including a 50MP 4x telephoto, but time and technical constraints prevented it. In contrast, a 200MP telephoto lens appears to be too costly for the S26 Ultra.
Galaxy S26 Series:
The Galaxy S26 Pro and Galaxy S26 Edge will enable 25W fast charging, just as the current Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Edge, according to leaker Ice Universe (PhoneArt on X). This disproves a recent rumour that suggested the Pro model would allow 45W charging.
Fans of Samsung will be pretty disappointed if the latest rumour turns out to be accurate. The Galaxy S26 Edge may have a 4,200 mAh cell, while the S26 Pro is rumoured to have a 4,300 mAh battery. While the Galaxy S26 Edge is expected to replace the Galaxy S+ model, the Galaxy S26 Pro is expected to replace the standard Galaxy S model.
