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Galaxy S26 Ultra may get a camera upgrade, despite using the same main camera sensor

The 200MP main camera sensor in the Galaxy S26 Ultra will reportedly be the same one we’ve seen for generations, though a minor change to the housing itself might mean a substantial jump in performance.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra, and several Ultra variants before it, have made use of a 200MP sensor in the main wide sensor slot. That’s accompanied by a telephoto and ultrawide lens, rounding out the Ultra’s offering at a higher price.

According to a new leak by @UniverseIce on Twitter/X, it appears that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will, to no one’s surprise, carry the same sensor. There is reportedly one change made to the HP2 sensor found on the device – the aperture.

The leak notes that the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 200MP camera sensor will have a wider aperture than seen on previous models. The Galaxy S25 Ultra, S24 Ultra, and S23 Ultra carry an f/1.7 with no change between them. This minor adjustment would mean the first change in the primary camera build for at least three years.

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No details are available on the aperture size. The leak simply notes a “large aperture.” That could mean it comes in at f/1.6, but it could also mean a much larger setting at f/1.2. A jump that big in the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s camera seems unrealistic, but there’s no way of knowing this far ahead of the phone’s launch.

This comes as other rumors around the phone are beginning to circulate, like one that notes that Galaxy S26 Ultra will get a charging upgrade over 45W. These seem like small improvements, but they bring the phone up to speed among other devices launching alongside it.

The Galaxy S26 series will likely be announced in January or February.

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