Samsung Galaxy S26 Series: Leaked specs reveal rebranded lineup, camera shifts, Snapdragon focus | The Express Tribune

Samsung’s highly anticipated Galaxy S26 flagship series underwent a significant structural shift recently, with the company cancelling one expected model and bringing back another.

Detailed firmware analysis and industry reports have confirmed critical specifications for the newly branded Galaxy S26, the Galaxy S26 Plus, and provided interesting insights into the flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra, suggesting a late January 2026 unveiling may still be in play.

The rebranded roster

The S26 lineup was initially anticipated to include the Galaxy S26 Pro, the Galaxy S26 Edge, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra. However, Samsung reportedly cancelled the Galaxy S26 Edge due to the historically low sales performance of slim models, such as the iPhone Air and the Galaxy S25 Edge.

Following this cancellation, Samsung restructured the series, replacing the Edge with the Galaxy S26 Plus (previously seen in the IMEI database under model number SM-S947). The base model, initially referred to as the S26 Pro, has now been simplified to the Galaxy S26.

This restructuring appears to signal Samsung’s move away from the ‘thin phone’ trend it started with the first Edge model. The S26 Plus is expected to measure 7.35mm thick, similar to the S25 Plus, while the regular S26 is pegged at 7.24mm, slightly thicker than the initially leaked Pro model.

S26 and S26 Plus: Camera and core power

The camera configuration for both the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus variants has been strategically fixed at 50 megapixels (MP) + 12 MP + 12 MP.

Key camera details confirmed by firmware analysis include:

• Main Camera: A new 50 MP Samsung ISOCELL S5KGNG sensor.
• Telephoto Camera: An upgrade to a new 12 MP Samsung ISOCELL S5K3LD sensor, abandoning the older 10 MP S5K3K1 telephoto camera used in the S25 and S25+ models. This upgrade offers improved image quality due to the higher resolution.
• Ultra Wide Angle Camera: Samsung made the decision to retain the older 12 MP Sony IMX564 sensor used in previous Galaxy S series generations. Standardising the telephoto and ultra-wide-angle resolutions at 12 MP helps eliminate the perception of a ‘low resolution’ issue associated with 10 MP sensors, thereby giving consumers the impression that these are entirely new sensors. However, the choice to skip a potential 50 MP ultra-wide sensor is viewed as a missed opportunity for a significant hardware upgrade.
• Front Camera: The device is expected to use the 12 MP Samsung ISOCELL S5K3LU front camera sensor.

Read: Besa Mafia: The dark web’s murder-for-hire scam

On the performance front, the base models will introduce Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec support, allowing video recording up to 4K 60FPS on both the front and rear cameras. This feature indicates that the next-generation Exynos 2600 System-on-Chip (SoC), expected to power the global versions of the S26 and S26 Plus, fully supports the APV codec.

Samsung maintains its dual chipset strategy: the Exynos 2600 (model number S5E9965) will target global markets, while models destined for key regions, such as the USA, are expected to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset.

Battery capacities for the standard models remain high, despite design considerations. The Galaxy S26 carries a 4,300 mAh battery, while the Galaxy S26 Plus comes equipped with a 4,900 mAh battery.

The S26 Ultra: Default resolution and Snapdragon focus

The premium S26 Ultra model is showing some refinements. CAD renders reveal that the device keeps its flat display and centred punch-hole camera but measures 163.4 x 77.9 x 7.9 mm, making it slightly taller and wider.

In terms of photography, the S26 Ultra is finally addressing user requests by moving to 24 MP default shots for both regular and portrait photos. Currently, Samsung defaults to 12 MP photos, giving competing devices like iPhones, which default to 24 MP, an edge in fine detail. However, this 24 MP default setting will require users to download Samsung’s Camera Assistant app and manually switch the setting on.

The Camera Assistant app itself is receiving upgrades, notably a focus speed slider for both photo and video. This feature allows users to control how quickly the camera shifts focus, essentially acting as a smartphone version of manual focus pulls seen on professional cinema cameras. The app will also include an option to disable HDR10+ and stick to standard HDR, alongside adaptive pixel technology designed to reduce noise and enhance detail by blending multiple lower resolution frames.

Also read: Halo comes to PlayStation, signals a new direction for Xbox

The Ultra’s camera hardware updates are modest, featuring a new 12 MP 3x telephoto lens, an upgrade from the previous 10 MP sensor. The main and periscope cameras are expected to receive bigger apertures, which accounts for the noticeably larger camera bump on the device.

Importantly, certifications from China confirm the battery capacity remains 5,000 mAh with 60W charging, putting an end to earlier rumours of a 5,400 mAh capacity. Furthermore, strong reports indicate that the S26 Ultra will likely be Snapdragon only worldwide, reinforcing performance advantages in all regions.

Final thoughts

The leaked information regarding the camera features, enhanced APV video capabilities, and high battery capacities suggests the Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus are prepared to be serious contenders in 2026. While the retention of an older Ultra Wide camera sensor is mildly disappointing, the refreshed telephoto and main cameras, combined with the Ultra’s exclusive Snapdragon focus and 24 MP default capability, mark a turning point in Samsung’s strategy, aiming for top-tier performance and simplified branding. We await Samsung’s official Unpacked announcement, expected potentially during the final week of January, to see how this well-designed series performs in reality.