Samsung appears set on maintaining its camera strategy for the standard model of its flagship Galaxy S-series line for the third consecutive year. A new report originating from South Korea’s The Elec suggests that the upcoming Galaxy S26 is highly likely to reuse the exact camera modules utilized in its predecessor, the Galaxy S25.
The Galaxy S25, released in January, already utilized the same triple camera configuration as the Galaxy S24 and the Galaxy S23. This ongoing consistency means the base model Galaxy S26 is expected to feature the following specifications:
| Camera Type | Resolution (Megapixels) | Sensor Size | Key Feature |
| Main | 50MP | 1/1.56” | Consistent with S25/S24/S23 |
| Telephoto | 10MP | 1/3.94″ | Includes 3x Optical Zoom |
| Ultrawide | 12MP | 1/2.55″ |
Camera Upgrade Plans Scrapped Due to iPhone 17
The decision to reuse the existing camera hardware was reportedly a dramatic, last-minute shift from Samsung’s original strategy. Initial plans involved upgrading the Galaxy S26’s camera sensors, which would have consequently required a higher starting price for the device.
However, this plan was allegedly altered by the strategic moves of its main rival. The launch strategy of Apple’s iPhone 17 influenced Samsung’s decision-making. Apple chose to enhance the vanilla iPhone 17 with a 120Hz ProMotion LTPO OLED display and 256GB of base storage while remarkably retaining its $799 entry point. To match this critical $799 price and remain fiercely competitive, Samsung was reportedly led to a late decision to scrap the planned camera upgrades for the Galaxy S26.
Impact on Production Timeline
This sudden requirement to redesign the internal components to accommodate the existing camera setup is now anticipated to cause a delay in the production schedule for the standard Galaxy S26 and S26+ models.
-
The higher-end Galaxy S26 Ultra is still expected to enter mass production this month (December 2025).
-
The Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ are now slated to begin their manufacturing process in early 2026.
