Speculation surrounding the Infinity-O notch (hole-punch) on Samsung’s upcoming flagship, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, is finally coming to an end. Previously thought to be a cost-cutting or aesthetic choice, the real reason behind the larger hole has been revealed: an improved front-facing camera experience.

Selfie Camera Expands Field of View

According to information from PhoneArt on the X platform, the larger hole-punch is due to Samsung increasing the selfie camera’s field of view (FOV). The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s front camera’s FOV has been increased to 85 degrees. In comparison, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s front camera had an 80-degree FOV.

Thanks to this upgrade, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s selfie camera will now have the same FOV as the S25 Ultra’s wide-angle rear camera. The front camera will be able to fit more into the frame, making it much easier to take better group selfies.

Of course, this wider field of view comes at the cost of a larger selfie camera hole in the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s display. However, given this significant camera upgrade, most users are expected to see this as a fair trade-off.

It remains unclear whether this significant selfie camera upgrade will be implemented across the entire Galaxy S26 series or will be exclusive to the Ultra model. Similarly, it remains to be seen whether the larger Infinity-O camera hole will be exclusive to the Ultra model or will be a feature for the entire S26 trio.

From an aesthetic perspective, the larger Infinity-O camera hole could better complement the device’s more rounded corners, but we’ll have to wait until the device launches to see how it looks.

Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S26 series early next year. Recent reports suggest the company may hold its next major Galaxy Unpacked event in January. The series is expected to consist primarily of Base, Plus, and Ultra models. It is currently unknown whether Samsung will release an S26 Edge successor later in 2026.