Samsung’s upcoming flagship, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, is slowly coming into focus, with new leaks suggesting a mix of continuity and subtle innovation in the camera department.

Dutch tech site GalaxyClub suggests that the S26 Ultra will retain the 50MP 5x periscope telephoto camera found in last year’s Galaxy S25 Ultra, suggesting Samsung isn’t rushing to overhaul a proven performer.

However, fresh rumours indicate Samsung may finally upgrade the 3x telephoto lens, which has been using the same 10MP sensor since the S21 Ultra. The new setup is tipped to feature a 12MP sensor, marking the first change to that camera in four years.

The S26 Ultra is also expected to continue using a 200MP primary sensor, possibly with a variable aperture and updated lens. Meanwhile, a new front-facing camera and enhanced laser autofocus system are tipped to deliver faster and sharper results.

The S26 Ultra will reportedly run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, with 16GB of RAM standard across all storage options. A larger vapor chamber for better cooling and localised Galaxy AI features are also on the cards.

Design-wise, Samsung is said to be scrapping the controversial rear camera rings and trimming the phone’s thickness slightly while maintaining a 5,000mAh battery and 45W fast charging.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to launch in January 2026.