Galaxy S26 Ultra May Revive Classic Dual Aperture Feature for Camera
New leaks from the notoriously accurate tipster “Ice Universe” suggest that Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra will not feature a new, larger 200MP sensor, a rumoured change that had excited many in the tech community. Instead, the device is expected to retain the same 200MP ISOCELL HP2 1/1.3-inch sensor used in the Galaxy S23 and S24 Ultra models.
A simple calculation shows that the amount of light entering the camera is increased by 47% compared to the S25 Ultra. https://t.co/YtX7xZ8bWr
— PhoneArt (@UniverseIce) August 4, 2025
While this may seem like a step back, the leak points to a significant lens upgrade that could dramatically improve the phone’s camera performance. According to Ice Universe, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will feature a wider f/1.4 aperture lens, a substantial change from the f/1.7 lens on the current S25 Ultra. This wider aperture would allow approximately 47% more light to reach the sensor, potentially leading to a major boost in low-light photography and a reduction in shutter lag.
However, a wider f/1.4 aperture presents a challenge for daylight photography, where too much light can lead to overexposure. The report addresses this by suggesting Samsung is considering a return to a “dual aperture” or “variable aperture” system, a feature last seen on the Galaxy S10 series. This technology would allow the camera to mechanically switch between two different aperture settings, a wide one for low light and a narrower one for bright conditions, or a continuous range of aperture sizes. This would provide photographers with greater control over their shots and could be a key selling point for the S26 Ultra.
This camera update is part of a larger list of rumoured enhancements for the S26 Ultra. The device is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset and run on One UI 8.5. Other potential upgrades include a larger screen, a bigger battery with faster charging, and a new telephoto camera module.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is anticipated to be released in early 2026.
