Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Rumours Suggest No Major Sensor Upgrade In 2026

Already well ahead of its expected early-year debut, Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra is shaping up to be one of 2026's most talked-about flagships. A steady stream of leaks has built up a picture of what Samsung is planning; interestingly, whispers about the Galaxy S27 Ultra have already started surfacing. This comes at a time when the industry of smartphone cameras is seeing a big shift, with Sony and OmniVision rolling out powerful next-gen 200-megapixel sensors that could reshape the premium phone segment.

Samsung, however, appears to be taking a different path.

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Galaxy Ultra Line May Skip Major Sensor Upgrades

Sony’s new LYTIA 901, a 1/1.12-inch 200-megapixel sensor, brings advanced HDR and a Quad-Quad Bayer layout for improved detail and dynamic range. OmniVision’s competing OVB0D steps up with a slightly larger 1/1.1-inch size and enhanced remosaic processing. These sensors are expected to appear in upcoming flagship phones from Vivo, Oppo, Xiaomi and Honor.

But according to tipster PhoneArt (@UniverseIce) in an X post, Samsung is reportedly not moving in the same direction. The company had initially planned to upgrade the Galaxy S27 Ultra to a 1/1.1-inch 200-megapixel primary camera, but the tipster claims the project was cancelled due to cost concerns and its potential profit impact. As a result, Samsung may continue using a 1/1.3-inch class 200-megapixel sensor, similar to the current HP2, across several upcoming Ultra models.

Galaxy S26 Ultra Could Improve Charging, Maintain Familiar Camera Setup

For the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung is expected to retain a quad-camera layout. Leaks suggest it will house a 200-megapixel main sensor, a 50-megapixel ultrawide lens, a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and a 50-megapixel periscope lens with 5x optical zoom. Charging upgrades over the previous Ultra are reportedly being evaluated, though specifics remain under wraps.

A Darker Frame Option May Change How the Display Looks

Another leak hints that the black variant of the Galaxy S26 Ultra may feature a darker frame instead of the silver-accented one seen on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. This darker finish may make the display borders appear visually thicker, even though the actual bezel size is expected to remain unchanged.

AI-Driven Privacy but No Brightness Boost

On the display front, Samsung may introduce an AI-assisted privacy mode. The system reportedly detects when someone is viewing the screen from over the user’s shoulder and automatically masks content, keeping it visible only to the primary user.

Despite Samsung’s transition to the newer M14 OLED material—which should improve efficiency and durability—the Galaxy S26 series is still expected to remain capped at 2,600 nits peak brightness. So while efficiency improves, raw brightness likely won’t.

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Overall, Samsung seems to be refining rather than reinventing the Galaxy Ultra experience for 2026, prioritising consistency, performance and subtle design shifts while competitors chase larger camera sensors.