Samsung appears to be sticking with its tried-and-true camera formula for the upcoming Galaxy S26, according to a new report from South Korea’s The Elec. The standard Galaxy S-series models have held onto the exact camera specifications for several years now. The Galaxy S25, which was released earlier this year, featured the same triple camera arrangement found on the Galaxy S24—and in fact, the hardware goes all the way back to the Galaxy S23.
If The Elec’s information is accurate, the Galaxy S26 will also inherit the camera hardware from its predecessor. Expect to see a 50MP primary camera (1/1.56”), a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom (1/3.94”), and a 12MP ultrawide camera (1/2.55”).
Interestingly, this wasn’t Samsung’s original plan. The report suggests that the company had been aiming to update the S26’s sensors and was even planning to launch the device at a higher starting price. However, Apple’s announcement of the iPhone 17 seems to have thrown a wrench in those plans. By introducing upgrades like a 120Hz ProMotion LTPO OLED display and a 256GB base storage, all while maintaining a $799 starting price, Apple set the bar higher and forced Samsung to reconsider its pricing and camera update strategy.
As a result, Samsung reportedly decided at the last minute to hold back on the camera upgrades so the Galaxy S26 could stay competitive at the $799 price point. This change has also delayed the standard S26’s production schedule. For context, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is reportedly entering mass production this month, but the S26 and S26+ models are expected to begin manufacturing in early 2026.
