Samsung’s 2026 flagship, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, has been at the center of some wild speculation lately. Multiple unverified reports have hinted at a substantial camera overhaul. While some claim Samsung may reintroduce a variable aperture, others suggest fewer rear cameras with only one telephoto zoom camera. Now, a fresh leak from a fairly reliable source adds to the intrigue, hinting at significant upgrades to the zoom camera system.
Galaxy S26 Ultra’s main camera tipped to feature variable aperture
An X user recently posted detailed camera specs for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The source claims the specs were originally shared by tipster @Jukanlosreve, who has a decent track record of Samsung leaks. According to them, the 2026 Ultra flagship’s primary camera will feature a variable aperture ranging between f/1.4 and f/4.0.
For the uninitiated, aperture refers to a camera lens’s opening through which the light enters the sensor. A larger opening (indicated by a lower f-stop value) means more light for brighter images and better low-light performance. A higher f-stop means a narrower aperture, resulting in darker images but greater depth of field for more details. A variable aperture offers more flexibility in different lighting conditions.
Besides a variable aperture, it appears to be the same 200MP sensor found on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It has a 1/1.3-inch optical format with 0.6µm pixels, OIS, and a focal length of 23.6mm. The newly introduced 50MP ultrawide camera seemingly carries over unchanged. It’s a 1/2.52-inch sensor with 0.7µm pixels, 13mm focal length, and an f/1.9 aperture.
Two new zoom cameras
While variable aperture is already a significant upgrade, it’s just the tip of the iceberg, the latest leak suggests. Samsung allegedly plans to introduce two new zoom cameras with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Firstly, the aging 10MP 3x lens is being replaced with a new 50MP unit with 3.5x optical magnification. This 1/3.15-inch sensor has an f/2.4 aperture, 0.56µm pixels, OIS, and 80mm focal length.
Coming to the other zoom camera, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to feature a 50MP 8x zoom lens with an 184mm focal length. This sensor has a 1/2.76-inch optical format with an f/3.0 aperture, OIS, and 0.64µm pixels. The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 50MP 5x zoom camera, which originally debuted on the S24 Ultra, replacing S23 Ultra’s 10MP 10x lens.
This rumor is certainly intriguing and suggests a much-needed overhaul of Samsung’s flagship camera system, especially as rivals continue to push the boundaries of innovation. However, it also sounds almost too good to be true. As mentioned earlier, there are also reports of Samsung possibly offering only one zoom camera on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, replacing the 3x and 5x lenses with a single 4x telephoto sensor. Until more concrete information emerges, it’s best to take this report with a grain of salt.
