Samsung’s Galaxy S26 lineup is set to recycle the same rear camera hardware it has been using since 2022, according to a new report from The Elec. The base Galaxy S26 and the returning Galaxy S26+ will once again feature a 50MP main sensor, 10MP 3x telephoto and 12MP ultrawide camera, matching the setups on the Galaxy S25, S24, S23 and S22.
In short, Samsung’s long overdue camera overhaul has been shelved.
The report suggests the decision comes down to cost. Samsung had allegedly prepared upgraded sensors for the S26 series but abandoned the plan after Apple kept prices unchanged for the iPhone 17. Prior leaks have indicated that Samsung has been benchmarking several S26 decisions against Apple’s pricing strategy, and avoiding a cost increase appears to have taken priority over hardware improvements.
Despite using the same camera modules, Samsung will still need to alter the internal layout because the original Galaxy S26 design was built around a newer set of sensors that now won’t be used. This means Samsung will make engineering adjustments simply to accommodate older components in the revised design.
With the foldables and Ultra models receiving more attention in recent years, Samsung’s repeated reuse of the same camera hardware on its mainstream flagship raises questions about how the company plans to stay competitive against rivals offering more aggressive upgrades.
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