Updated on August 4, 2024: Ice has confirmed that the aperture of the S26 Ultra’s main camera will be f/1.4. That roughly translates to 47% better light intake, compared to the S25 Ultra. The original story is as follows:
Samsung might be preparing one of its biggest camera upgrades in years. According to reliable tipster @UniverseIce, the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra will feature a brighter aperture, likely f/1.4, paired with the 200MP ISOCELL HP2 sensor. This change alone could be the biggest leap in Samsung’s camera hardware since the S20 Ultra, and it might finally address long-standing complaints around shutter lag, low-light softness, and depth rendering.
Why is the Aperture Important?
Samsung has been coasting on similar sensor specs since the S23 Ultra, using the same 1/1.3-inch 200MP HP2 sensor with a fixed f/1.7 aperture on both the S24 and S25 Ultra. That sensor size isn’t bad, but it’s been outshined by competitors using 1-inch sensors.
But recently, brands like vivo have started ditching 1-inch sensors in favor of slightly smaller 1/1.28-inch ones paired with brighter apertures. The vivo X200 Ultra, currently one of the best camera phones available (in China), uses this 1/1.28-inch sensor.
For Samsung, an upgrade to f/1.5 could mean up to 77% more light intake compared to the older f/1.8 aperture used in the S20 to S22 era. That translates into:
- Less shutter lag (faster exposure)
- Sharper low-light photos
- Creamier natural background blur
This also levels the playing field against phones using 1-inch sensors at f/1.8. Thanks to physics, a smaller sensor with a brighter lens can simulate the depth and light capture of larger glass, at least to some extent.
But What About That Awful 3X Telephoto?
Here’s where Samsung still needs to get its act together. For five years, the 3X telephoto camera on Ultra models has used a tiny sensor, 1/3.52-inch on the S25 Ultra, which delivers underwhelming portraits with weak detail and poor low-light performance.
If Samsung wants to sell the S26 Ultra as a true camera king, it must upgrade that 3X to at least something like the ISOCELL JN5 or at least a 1/2-inch class sensor. That would make a world of difference in actual zoom quality (at 3X) and portrait separation.
Time for Some Real Camera Upgrades?
From the S20 Ultra’s flashy 108MP debut to the S25 Ultra’s subtle refinements, Samsung’s camera upgrades have felt incremental lately. But if this new HP2+ sensor with f/1.5 aperture turns out real, and if Samsung pairs it with a proper zoom sensor, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could finally deliver that long-overdue wow moment.
Nonetheless, it’s too early to call it a comeback, but this sounds like one of the most meaningful camera hardware shifts since 2020. Here’s hoping Samsung follows through. What are your thoughts on all of this? Let us know in the comments section below.
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.
