Samsung is still months away from unveiling its next flagship camera powerhouse – the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Many fans hoped that the S26 Ultra could bring another innovative telephoto upgrade to the already great set of cameras found on the S25 Ultra. However, a new leak has shed light on a disappointing detail regarding the zoom camera.
As per a GalaxyClub report (via SamMobile), the Galaxy S26 Ultra will retain the 50MP telephoto lens that offers 5x optical zoom. This familiar lens has already been around for a couple of years and we saw it on the Galaxy S24 Ultra as well as the S25 Ultra. This 50MP telephoto shooter features a 1/2.52-inch sensor, offering phase detection autofocus (PDAF) and optical image stabilisation (OIS), which has already proved its mettle.
For quite some time, rumours had pointed towards an upgrade – possibly a single 200MP ISOCELL telephoto sensor – skipping the other zoom lens. The leak, however, has quashed the rumours and it appears that Samsung might be considering a step-down in upgrades to meet the budget of other important components – a new Snapdragon flagship chip – while also maintaining the price range amid rising tariffs in the US.
That said, there might still be some hope for a major upgrade to the other telephoto lens, which could offer 3.5x or up to 8x zoom. The S26 Ultra is also expected to retain S25 Ultra’s 200MP main sensor and the 50MP ultra-wide shooter.
Other than the camera leaks, the S26 Ultra is expected to feature improvements in battery energy density. Samsung may not opt for an increased battery capacity beyond the 5,000mAh, but it could introduce a slimmer chassis. The battery could also support a slightly faster charging technology through a minor update to the heat dissipation system.
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