Leak Suggests Galaxy S26 Ultra To Feature New 12MP Telephoto Lens and Faster Charging

Highlights

• The Galaxy S26 Ultra will retain the 200MP main and 50MP 5x periscope lenses, while the 3x telephoto sensor is reportedly being upgraded to 12MP.
• The S26 Ultra is expected to be slimmer than its predecessor despite keeping the 5,000mAh battery.
• Launch is expected in January 2026.

Caption – Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for reference. (Image credit – Samsung)

With Samsung’s latest foldables almost out of the way, the spotlight is slowly shifting to what’s next. Yes, we are referring to the next-in-line Galaxy S26 Ultra. According to early leaks, the upcoming flagship could bring some meaningful upgrades over its predecessor. Here’s what recent leaks say.

Galaxy S26 Ultra – New Leak

Reliable tipster Ice Universe on Weibo has shared fresh details about the device, just days after hinting at its battery specs. As expected, Samsung is reportedly sticking with the 5,000mAh battery for another year. While other brands like OnePlus and Nothing are moving towards silicon-carbon batteries, Samsung appears to be avoiding the tech, possibly due to lingering caution after the Note 7 incident.

Caption – Tipster Ice Universe’s recent post. (Translated Via Google Translate)

It is important to note that silicon-carbon batteries allow for slimmer phones with bigger batteries

Now, that might sound disappointing but there’s plenty to look forward to.

The leak confirms that the 200MP main camera is staying, though it’s unclear if it’ll be the exact same sensor. The leak also confirms the 50MP 5x periscope telephoto lens will return. The interesting change is to the 3x telephoto sensor, which is reportedly being upgraded to 12MP.

Ice Universe says he’s “90 per cent” sure about this move, and even though megapixels don’t tell the whole story, it should mean at least a bump in resolution over the current 10MP sensor on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Another major improvement could be the slimmer design. Despite using the same battery size, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is said to be thinner than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which many users found a bit bulky. Samsung might be applying some of the design efficiencies learned from building the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to make this possible.

Ice Universe also believes faster charging is on the cards for the new Ultra, though exact details are still under wraps.

Anyhow, the Galaxy S26 series isn’t expected to launch until January 2026, following Samsung’s usual schedule. Until then, Samsung is focused on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7, which are open for reservation now. Early sign-ups can get a $50 credit, triple reward points, and savings of up to $1,150+ with no obligation to buy.

FAQs

Q1. What camera upgrades are expected on the Galaxy S26 Ultra?

Answer. The leak confirms that the 200MP main camera is staying. The interesting change is to the 3x telephoto sensor, which is reportedly being upgraded to 12MP.

Q2. Will the Galaxy S26 Ultra be slimmer than its predecessor?

Answer. Despite using the same battery size, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is said to be thinner than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which many users found a bit bulky.

Q3. Is Samsung changing the battery technology in the Galaxy S26 Ultra?

Answer. Samsung is reportedly sticking with the 5,000mAh battery for another year. Samsung appears to be avoiding the tech, possibly due to lingering caution after the Note 7 incident.

Also Read: Galaxy S26 Ultra could stick to 5000mAh battery but finally boost charging speeds

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Ultra series camera upgrades