What’s one complaint that many Samsung phone owners have had for a few years: the camera, which has seen very minor upgrades, and sees the same sensors keep getting reused. Though the Galaxy S26 Ultra isn’t getting a new sensor just yet, it is getting an upgrade — other than the wider aperture — which many will welcome with open arms.
Galaxy S26 Ultra embraces realism
According to yet another report on this matter, a first-hand testimony it seems, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will be embracing realism over high contrast and heavily saturated photos. The phone’s main camera will cut down on the post-photo processing, and instead present the user with an image that much more accurately represents the environment around them.
I can confirm that the overall photography style of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is realistic, that is, it is as close as possible to the colors of the real environment. For those who like high contrast and high saturation, this is not a good thing, as the photos will look…
This software-side upgrade isn’t the only camera upgrade that Samsung is introducing to the Galaxy S26 Ultra. As mentioned before, a sensor upgrade isn’t expected, but the phone is going to get a wider aperture. In fact, this is why the rear camera bump is apparently making a return.
A wider aperture for the main camera means that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will take much better photos in challenging lighting conditions. More detail will be found on objects in shadow, and the phone will generally have a lot more information to work with when you’ll be capturing photos.
There are rumors that the Galaxy S27 Ultra might feature a sensor upgrade, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra will, by no means, be a slouch when it comes to photography.
Is this a good enough upgrade to warrant a purchase?
Yes, I'm considering getting the Galaxy S26 Ultra
25%
No, I'll wait for the Galaxy S27 Ultra
75%
A very welcome change for some
Some people prefer more saturated photos, and that’s fine, but for users like me, more natural-looking images is a powerful marketing feature for a smartphone. When I snap a picture, I want my phone to show me what I’m seeing at that moment with my own eyes. Then again, I’m generally a purist when it comes to certain things, so your mileage may vary.
A wider aperture and more natural tones won’t help the Galaxy S26 Ultra beat Chinese alternatives with much better sensors — like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra — but it’s certainly a step in the right direction. It also gives me hope for phone manufacturers moving towards more natural, realistic photography, lest we repeat Apple’s AI processing on the iPhone, which often outputs gibberish text on signs and billboards.
Abdullah loves smartphones, Virtual Reality, and audio gear. Though he covers a wide range of news his favorite is always when he gets to talk about the newest VR venture or when Apple sets the industry ablaze with another phenomenal release.
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