Galaxy S26 Gets New Sony Camera, but Ultra May Stick with Same Samsung Sensor

Samsung’s base Galaxy S flagships may get a meaningful camera upgrade next year, but the Ultra might not follow suit. According to recent reports, the Galaxy S26 and S26 Edge may feature a new Sony 50MP main camera. However, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could retain the same 200MP ISOCELL HP2 sensor found in its predecessors.

A much-needed change for base models

For the past three generations — the Galaxy S23, S24, and S25 — Samsung has used the 50MP ISOCELL GN3 sensor as the primary camera on its base and Plus Galaxy S models. While reliable, the GN3 began to lag behind the competition, many of which use advanced Sony sensors.

The Galaxy S26 is now tipped to receive a new 50MP Sony sensor with 1.0µm pixel size. This could offer noticeable improvements in image sharpness, color accuracy, and low-light clarity. Despite an unchanged resolution, this shift could help Samsung close the photography gap with Chinese competitors, who have long favored Sony hardware.

Alongside the base Galaxy S26, the S26 Edge may also get the new 50MP Sony camera. Notably, that’s a downgrade from the S25 Edge’s 200MP primary shooter. Samsung is likely going this route because the Edge will now be a part of the main lineup. It is rumored to replace the Plus, so there’s no longer a need for a point of differentiation.

Samsung shouldn’t overlook the Galaxy S26 Ultra

While the base and Edge models get a sensor refresh, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may stick with the same 200MP ISOCELL HP2 sensor that’s been used since the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Although the sensor has seen some optimization in recent years — Samsung tweaked its performance on the S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra — it remains fundamentally the same hardware introduced in early 2023.

That’s not necessarily bad news. The 200MP HP2 sensor is still a powerhouse, capable of producing high-resolution images, detailed crops, and impressive results in good lighting. However, the lack of a new sensor may disappoint power users who were hoping for a more substantial upgrade on the Ultra variant. More so because of how fast rivals are evolving when it comes to smartphone cameras. Samsung does have some software upgrades in plan, but that may not be enough.