Samsung teases major camera upgrades for Galaxy S26 Ultra ahead of launch

Samsung has begun teasing what could be a major camera upgrade for the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra, putting a strong spotlight on video quality, low-light performance, and long-range zoom ahead of its expected debut later this month.

In a series of three newly released teaser videos, the company hints at enhanced zoom capabilities. One sequence shows a dog inside a car being tracked from what appears to be a distance exceeding 10x zoom. While Samsung has acknowledged that portions of the visuals are AI-generated, the clips are clearly designed to suggest sharper detail and improved clarity at higher zoom levels.

Focus on low light and zoom

Beyond zoom, the teasers also highlight improvements in low-light video capture. The footage shown appears clearer and more detailed in dim conditions, hinting at sensor and software refinements aimed at boosting night photography and videography.

Leaks and early renders provide additional context. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to reintroduce a rear camera island design, potentially to accommodate a larger main sensor with a wider aperture. Reports suggest a 200MP primary camera with a speculated f/1.4 aperture, wider than its predecessor, which would allow more light to reach the sensor. If accurate, this could translate into better night shots and smoother low-light video compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Samsung, however, has not officially confirmed these specifications.

Expected camera specifications

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to feature:

• A 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom

• A 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom

• A 200MP primary camera with a possible f/1.4 aperture

Meanwhile, the standard Galaxy S26 and S26+ models may either receive an upgraded 12MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom or retain the 10MP 3x telephoto lens seen in the previous generation.

Launch timeline and chipset

The Galaxy S26 lineup, expected to include the S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, is widely tipped to be unveiled on February 25, with sales likely beginning in March.

Depending on the market, the devices are expected to run on either Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset or Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2600 processor.

A camera-first flagship?

Samsung’s early teasers point to a clear strategy: doubling down on camera performance, particularly in zoom and low-light video. If the rumors prove accurate, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could mark one of Samsung’s most camera-focused flagship launches to date.