Samsung’s next year’s Galaxy S26 Ultra flagship smartphone has been the subject of loads of headlines lately. There are already some leaks and reports regarding its potential camera performance. However, there is still some confusion since some rumors say it will flare two 200MP camera sensors, while some leaks indicate otherwise. Anyway, a new leak claims that Samsung will adopt new camera optics that will make the Galaxy S26 Ultra thinner than ever.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could have a thinner camera module
According to a report by The Elec, Samsung could be planning to introduce new camera modules with the Galaxy S26 series. These will make the phones with a heavy build, like the Galaxy S26 Ultra, thinner than the current Galaxy S25 series devices. Samsung Electro-Mechanics, a Samsung subsidiary that makes chip parts, camera modules, and more, has started working on the new project.
The process involves using inkjet printing in the phone’s camera module. As per the publication, this method replaces the use of cover films between the rib surfaces of the camera lens. These films were there to prevent flare and ghosting artifacts from reaching the sensor and distorting the photo. The change enables Samsung to place a much slimmer anti-ghosting layer between multiple lenses in smartphone camera optics. It makes the whole camera unit more compact and thinner.
If you’re unaware, the camera assembly is one of the thickest components in a smartphone. So, Samsung’s new camera optics will not only allow for a thinner Galaxy S26 Ultra or other models in the new series, but they could also shave off the camera protrusion at the rear. Samsung Electro-Mechanics had already filed a patent for such a camera module in 2018.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra could get these camera upgrades
As per the earlier leaks, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could offer some upgrades in the camera department. A leak in March suggested that Samsung will fit the Galaxy S26 Ultra with only three cameras. Samsung reportedly already tested a prototype of the phone with a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide lens, and a 200MP 4x optical zoom camera.
However, a report by the end of March suggested that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will continue to offer four main cameras at the rear like the S25 Ultra, but with some upgraded sensors. The phone could have a 200MP main camera with variable aperture (f/1.4-f/4.0), a 23.6mm lens, and a 1/1.3-inch sensor. The main lens could be accompanied by a 50MP ultrawide camera, a 50MP telephoto unit, and a 50MP periscope telephoto shooter.
While this is possible and everything, there’s no way to confirm the authenticity of the aforementioned leaks. Since Samsung isn’t launching the Galaxy S26 series anytime before Q1 2026, we have a lot more time to learn about the features of the new phones from the rumor mill.
