Samsung Galaxy S26: The Evolution of Camera Technology
Samsung has maintained a consistent approach to the camera setups in its baseline Galaxy S-series models for several years. The recent launch of the Galaxy S25 in January introduced a triple camera configuration that mirrored the hardware of its predecessor, the Galaxy S24, which, in turn, featured the same camera system as the Galaxy S23. A fresh report from South Korea’s The Elec indicates that the upcoming Galaxy S26 is anticipated to retain the same camera modules utilized in the Galaxy S25.
Current Camera Specs
This means that the Galaxy S26 will likely include:
- A 50MP main sensor (1/1.56”)
- A 10MP telephoto lens (1/3.94″) offering 3x optical zoom
- A 12MP ultrawide sensor (1/2.55″)
However, these specifications were not part of Samsung’s initial vision. According to the same report, the company had intended to upgrade the sensors for the Galaxy S26, paired with a bump in the device’s starting price.
The Influence of the iPhone 17
A pivotal moment in Samsung’s decision-making came with Apple’s release of the iPhone 17. The latest iPhone features a 120Hz ProMotion LTPO OLED display and 256GB of base storage, all while keeping the starting price at $799. This unexpected move by Apple significantly influenced Samsung’s strategy, leading the company to a last-minute decision to forego camera upgrades for the Galaxy S26 in order to maintain a competitive price point.
Impact on Production Timeline
As a consequence of these adjustments, delays in the production timeline for the standard Galaxy S26 are now expected. Samsung will need to redesign some internal components to align with the revised specifications. For context, the mass production of the Galaxy S26 Ultra is set to begin this month, while the Galaxy S26 and S26+ will enter manufacturing early in 2026.
Source (in Korean) Here
Image Credit: www.gsmarena.com
