A different number of Galaxy S26 Ultra iterations might be on the testing block, but it appears that Samsung will once again keep some of the camera specifications consistent with the previous models while introducing some tweaks to improve image quality. With no evidence that the Korean giant is bringing its significantly more advanced HP9 sensor to the upcoming flagship, a new rumor is doing the rounds, stating that one prototype features the same HP2 unit as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, with Samsung said to be making minor changes to the lens and pixels.
The HP2 sensor has been used in three top-end Samsung flagships so far, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra said to be the next recipient
Sadly, the company does not appear to have any intentions to significantly revamp the hardware on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, as @PandaFlashPro provides an update regarding the company’s current prototypes. Previously, he mentioned that the upcoming smartphone would presumably sport a new sensor that would share the same physical size as the HP2, but it would ship with a different lens and pixel arrangement.
Now, based on the updated information that he has received, the actual sensor could still be the HP2, with the only difference being that Samsung will employ the aforementioned tweaks of utilizing another lens and varying pixels. For the lens part, we have reported that the Galaxy S26 Ultra could be outfitted with variable aperture technology, giving more versatility to the HP2. Depending on the surrounding conditions, the lens can automatically adjust to take in more or less light.
Just received Second Prototype information, and that device also has the same Sensor size as HP2, meaning Samsung is trying to reuse HP2 again with just Updated Pixels and a New Lens. https://t.co/LKYpunmBRN
— PandaFlash 𝕏 (@PandaFlashPro) April 6, 2025
A different pixels arrangement has yet to be talked about in-depth, so we will hold off on expanding our discussion on this particular topic for the time being. Perusing through the previous rumors, it could be the first time that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will ship with three cameras instead of four, with one of the units being removed to make space for a bigger battery capacity.
Unfortunately, @PandaFlashPro cannot comment on whether these minor changes will result in better image quality because this configuration has yet to be tested on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but if that is Samsung’s goal, then we should have pretty solid optics hardware. In related news, there appears to be no Exynos variant of the upcoming flagship being tested, with the same tipster mentioning that various storage configurations paired with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 are in the prototyping phase.
News Source: @PandaFlashPro
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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