A new leak regarding Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series, expected to be unveiled in January 2026, has surprised camera enthusiasts. Rumors suggest that one of the flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra’s telephoto cameras may be downgraded. Here are the leaked details about the new device.

Galaxy S26 Ultra’s telephoto camera may be downgraded

According to reliable leaker Ice Universe, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s telephoto camera, offering 3x optical zoom, is expected to feature a 12-megapixel (cropped to 10-megapixel), 1/3.94-inch sensor with 1.0µm pixels. These values ​​are smaller than the Sony IMX754 sensor in the S25 Ultra.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra used a larger sensor with a 1/3.52-inch sensor and a 1.12µm pixel size. While these differences may seem minor on paper, sensor size and pixel pitch directly affect how much light the camera can capture. This could directly impact photo quality, especially low-light performance.

While the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 50-megapixel 5x periscope telephoto camera (1/2.52-inch, 0.7µm) remains quite competitive, competitors are rapidly advancing. While the iPhone 17 Pro’s 48-megapixel 5x telephoto camera is attracting attention, rumors are also circulating that Chinese manufacturers will use Sony’s 200-megapixel sensor in the telephoto cameras of their new flagships.

According to Ice Universe, Samsung also considered alternatives such as a 50-megapixel 4x telephoto lens, but shelved these plans due to technical and scheduling issues. A 200-megapixel telephoto lens is believed to be too expensive to fit in the S26 Ultra.

While no changes are expected to the main 200-megapixel wide-angle and 50MP ultra-wide cameras, this potential step back in the 3x telephoto camera raises questions about Samsung’s camera strategy. While the thicker camera bump in leaked renders has generated excitement for the new optics, there’s no definitive information yet to support these claims.

So, what do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.