Galaxy S26 Ultra May Feature New HP2+ Sensor with Larger Aperture

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra is making a lot of headlines this week, thanks to a myriad of early leaks. A fresh leak claims that the next-gen flagship will feature a new ISOCELL HP2+ primary camera with a larger aperture. This will result in greater light intake for the camera, delivering enhanced photo quality, particularly in low-light conditions.

Galaxy S26 Ultra leak reveals big camera upgrade

There was chatter that Samsung may retain the same 200MP main camera sensor on the Galaxy S26 Ultra as seen in the previous three generations. Well, there have also been some unconfirmed reports about a potential upgrade to a new 200MP Sony sensor. The latest leak refutes those claims, suggesting that the company will stick to its in-house ISOCELL sensor.

While the megapixel count may remain unchanged, Samsung will bring a meaningful upgrade by introducing an improved HP2+ sensor with a larger aperture, according to noted tipster @UniverseIce. The new sensor is expected to be a refined and more advanced version of the current ISOCELL HP2.

Introduced with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the HP2 sensor made its way to the Galaxy S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra. While the sensor has proven to deliver pro-grade photography, Samsung now wants to improve it even further. It’s unclear whether the new sensor will be physically larger than HP2, but the leak suggests the lens will feature a slightly wider aperture (a smaller f-number).

“The large aperture will completely solve the problem of insufficient light in the dark areas of the S25 Ultra and improve the overall image quality,” the tipster noted. They added that the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s HP2+ sensor, with its wider aperture, will allow for increased light input, enhancing low-light photography. This could be the most noticeable camera upgrade since the Galaxy S20 Ultra.

The aforementioned Sony sensor was said to have a 1/1.1-inch optical format, larger than the current 1/1.3-inch ISOCELL sensor. However, it looks like this sensor won’t make the cut for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. That said, we may see such a switch in the future, as competition in smartphone camera technology heats up. Only time will tell.