Galaxy S26 Ultra’s New 3x Zoom Camera May Be a Downgrade, Not an Upgrade

Samsung fans hoping for a 3x zoom camera upgrade on the Galaxy S26 Ultra may be in for a disappointment. Fresh leaks suggest that instead of receiving a rumored 12MP 3x telephoto unit, the device could actually ship with a downgraded 10MP sensor, raising concerns about the company’s camera strategy.

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Galaxy S26 Ultra’s rumored 3x zoom camera upgrade may not materialize

A few days ago, trusted leaker Ice Universe claimed that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will bring meaningful upgrades to its telephoto cameras. He said the device will get a 12MP 3x zoom lens, replacing the aging 10MP unit. A higher resolution sensor means sharper close-ups. It looked like Samsung was finally ready to push its Ultra zoom game forward.

But the same source now confirms that those upgrades are no longer happening. Samsung has backtracked on the 12MP telephoto plan for the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 3x zoom camera. The new sensor is technically 12MP, but the company is reportedly limiting output to 10MP, so don’t expect any quality improvements.

In fact, it’s a downgrade when you look at the specs. The sensor in question has an f/2.4 aperture, 1/3.94-inch size, and 1.0µm pixels, so it’s the same unit found on the Galaxy S25, not the S25 Ultra. The latter uses Sony’s IMX754 sensor, which has an optical size of 1/3.52-inch, so it’s marginally larger than what Samsung plans to offer on the S26 Ultra next year.

For fans, this shift feels like a letdown. Samsung seemed ready to answer calls for sharper zoom images with a new sensor, but the latest rumor suggests otherwise. The company is effectively lowering the Ultra’s specs to match cheaper models instead of lifting the base Galaxy S models closer to Ultra-level quality.

The timing adds to the disappointment. Apple just introduced its iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max with improved zoom cameras, further raising the stakes. If Samsung’s S26 Ultra keeps the same telephoto configuration as the S25 Ultra — or worse, downgrades it — the gap could widen. While the phone might still bring upgrades to its 200MP main camera, the 3x telephoto is shaping up to be a weak point.