Samsung unveiled its latest flagship series, the S26, promising a leap forward in the Galaxy experience. The announcement, delivered at a major event, revealed a refinement of the previous generation, the S25, rather than a radical overhaul – a familiar trend in the smartphone world.
The spotlight shone brightest on the camera systems, yet a closer look reveals surprisingly few changes to the core hardware. Lens and sensor sizes remain largely consistent across the S26 and S26+, both featuring three rear cameras and a 12MP front-facing lens. The S26 Ultra distinguishes itself with a fourth rear camera and a subtly wider aperture on its 200MP main sensor.
The true innovation lies within the processing power. A new AI processor breathes life into the cameras, enhancing detail and balancing light in challenging conditions. This extends beyond still photography, dramatically improving video capture in low light – building upon Samsung’s established “Nightography” capabilities.
Stability is also significantly improved. The S26 introduces “Super Steady with Horizontal Lock,” a feature that automatically stabilizes footage and maintains a level horizon, even without direct observation of the frame. The S26 Ultra takes this further, offering professional-grade video tools.
For serious videographers, the S26 Ultra supports the APV codec, a high-quality format favored by professional editors. Recognizing the large file sizes associated with 8K APV recording, Samsung has also enabled recording to external storage, mirroring a feature recently adopted by competitors. Log recording and LUT application provide further creative control over color grading.
A previously exclusive feature, Ocean Mode, now finds its way to the S26 series through the Expert RAW setting, allowing for detailed underwater photography. This expands the creative possibilities for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
In a striking demonstration of confidence, Samsung revealed the entire launch event was filmed entirely using the S26 Ultra’s cameras. This echoes Apple’s practice of showcasing iPhone capabilities, but marks the first time Samsung has livestreamed an event using only its smartphone cameras.
Galaxy AI plays a central role in the S26’s enhanced capabilities. The document scanner intelligently removes unwanted elements from scans and seamlessly combines multiple pages into a single PDF.
AI-powered prompt-based editing unlocks new creative avenues. Users can effortlessly merge elements from different photos, swap outfits, or even remove a bite from a cupcake – all through simple text commands. The possibilities for image manipulation are vast and intuitive.
While no single upgrade may compel an immediate jump from the S25, the S26 series demonstrates Samsung’s commitment to camera innovation. The improvements in low-light performance and the addition of professional video features are particularly compelling, but a thorough evaluation by independent reviewers will ultimately determine the true extent of these advancements.
