With the announcement of the Galaxy S26 series, all the technical details arrived and once again we discovered that the camera department does not introduce novelty. The improvements are all concentrated on the software side and on the contribution of artificial intelligence but — as is now traditional — the hardware remains unchanged.
If you’re wondering whether Samsung will ever reverse this trend, you can be satisfied: it seems that behind the scenes the tech giant is working on new cameras, at least according to what was revealed to colleagues at Android Authority.
Samsung responds to criticism: here’s why the camera hardware hasn’t changed (yet)
The Unpacked event put the spotlight on Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra, confirming aesthetic changes (minimal), those related to battery and charging but especially regarding the cameras. The two smaller siblings offer a triple-camera setup of 50 + 12 + 10 MP with OIS, ultrawide and telephoto, in line with S25 and S25+.
The same goes for the Ultra variant, which repeats the same package as S25 Ultra (200 + 50 + 10 + 50 MP) but with wider focal apertures. Despite the stagnation, a Samsung executive confirmed that the company is investing heavily in research and development for the camera hardware.
However the Asian giant is also waiting for the right moment and the ideal combination of hardware and software before introducing these novelties on Galaxy phones. Joshua Cho, Samsung’s executive vice president, explained this vision in an interview with Android Authority:
“I must admit that so far this has been one of the most frequently asked questions, and I can tell you that a lot of Research and Development activity is underway also on the hardware improvement front.”
It’s just about finding the right combination at the right time… We constantly assess what the best mix could be for a given period. Consequently, in the future you will see new synergies between hardware and software; I therefore ask you for a bit more patience and to keep following us closely.”
On one hand we can breathe a sigh of relief as updates to the department are expected; on the other hand the executive does not commit so it’s not known when these novelties will arrive. The next Galaxy S27 Ultra should introduce a new main sensor while rumors also insist on the return of variable aperture and the introduction of the 3D Face Unlock in Apple style.
Nevertheless, better to proceed with extreme caution, as it really hinges on the release of the future flagship series.
