The Samsung Galaxy S Ultra series is rumored to stick with the same telephoto camera sensor for the next few years, according to a recent leak.
A well-known leaker, Ice Universe, shared on social media that Samsung plans to use the same 1/2.52-inch 0.7ÎĽm 50MP telephoto sensor in the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra and even in the Galaxy S27 Ultra in 2027.
This decision would mean that four consecutive generations of Samsung Ultra devices, including the current Galaxy S25 Ultra, will feature the same telephoto camera technology.
This strategy is not new for Samsung, as they have previously used the same camera components across multiple device generations. For example, the 200MP ISOCELL HP2 sensor has been consistent in the Galaxy S23 Ultra and even in the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Similarly, the Sony IMX754 3x telephoto camera has been a staple in Samsung’s lineup since the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Despite potential criticism for lack of innovation, Samsung is rumored to downgrade the telephoto camera in the Galaxy S26 Ultra to reduce the device’s overall thickness.
Competition in the smartphone camera market is fierce, with brands like Xiaomi and Oppo pushing boundaries with advanced camera technology. Even Apple is set to introduce significant improvements in telephoto camera capabilities with the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro.
Samsung has form
This wouldn’t be an unusual decision on Samsung’s part, if accurate. It’s been using the same 200MP ISOCELL HP2 main camera sensor since the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, and it also made its way into the recent Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Meanwhile, the Sony IMX754 3x telephoto camera has been in use since the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Indeed, the tipster has previously claimed that Samsung will downgrade the existing 3x telephoto camera in the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, all in the name of slimming the phone down.
We liked the camera offering on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra a lot, but with strong competition from the likes of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the Oppo Find X8 Ultra – both of which have really pushed the boat out on camera tech – it arguably needs to offer something new.
Even Apple is taking steps forward in the telephoto game, with its iPhone 17 Pro set to offer a massively improved 48MP 4x telephoto camera, complete with 8x “optical-quality” zoom capabilities.
