Samsung’sGalaxy S25 Ultrais one of the most capable smartphone photographic camera out there , as long as your search is limited to the US shoring . It ’s a terrific performer , but the pace of camera innovation has more or less slowed down , while the like ofXiaomi 15 Ultrahave truly lifted the game . Things might finally turn around for Samsung next year .

accord to a fresh escape , Samsung iseyeing a smattering of notable upgradesfor theGalaxy S26Ultra ’s imagery hardware . alternatively of a 10 - megapixel short - kitchen stove telephotograph camera on the Galaxy S25 Ultra , its replacement will reportedly shift to a larger 50 - megapixel sensor .

Moreover , the optical zoom cooking stove might also get a lift , going from 3x to 3.5x rapid climb . Talking about zoom levels , the long - range periscope - panache telephoto television camera could also go from 5x to 8x opthalmic zoom range , and a wider aperture to go with it . As usual , optical image stabilization will be available across the primary and soar cameras .

I heard some better tidings . With Apple ’s introduction of varying aperture technology , it has been confirmed that Samsung will also comprise a varying aperture .

— Siddhant B ( @SiddhantGeek)March 26 , 2025

The main camera on the Galaxy S26 Ultra is tell to stick with a 200 - megapixel unit , with an identical 1/1.3 - inch sensor format and 0.6 - micrometer pixel size of it . However , it could mark the return of an advanced aperture put-on that Samsung introduced years ago .

Bringing back the variable aperture

Back in 2018 , Samsung acquaint theGalaxy S9 Pluswith a new camera trick . The main sensor on this one offer avariable aperture facility , allowing it to change between f/1.5 and f/2.4 grade . The Galaxy S26 Ultra could bring back the varying aperture system of rules , and in a more capable fashion .

For the unaware , the aperture is a tiny cakehole that allows light to enter the camera system before it hit the sensor . The broad it gets , the more brightness enter the photographic camera burrow . The most obvious benefit is that in downhearted - light scenario , a wider aperture can collect more information , and produce more detailed shots .

On the other end , a narrow aperture produces abrupt pictures . So , if you ’re in a well - light environs and need to centre on certain elements in the skeletal system , a narrow aperture scope is the way of life to go . The effect are not as pronounced as those you get from the granulose aperture adjustment on a DSLR photographic camera , but they are still detectable .

On the Galaxy S26 Ultra , the independent 200 - megapixel camera will reportedly grant variable aperture adjustment between f/1.4 to f/4.0 values . That ’s a massive rising slope over the Galaxy S9 Plus , and thanks to the improved imaging algorithm and bombastic sensor , the lineament acclivity is function to be monolithic .