TL;DR
A new leak claims the Galaxy S26 Ultra's 50MP 5x telephoto will move to an f/2.9 aperture, up from f/3.4 on the S25 Ultra, which should improve low-light and motion performance. The leaker also reiterates rumors of a wider f/1.4 primary 200MP sensor and a possible 16GB/1TB Ultra variant, though wider availability and some other details remain unconfirmed.
What happened
A recent post on X by leaker Ahmed Qwaider suggests Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra will upgrade its 50MP 5x telephoto lens to an f/2.9 aperture, a notable change from the f/3.4 unit used on the S25 Ultra. Wider apertures let more light reach the sensor, which can yield brighter images with less noise and allow faster shutter speeds to limit motion blur in low light. Qwaider also repeated earlier claims that the S26 Ultra's main 200MP sensor will adopt an f/1.4 aperture, versus f/1.7 today. Separately, the leaker says Samsung may offer a 16GB RAM and 1TB storage S26 Ultra variant with broader availability than past region-limited high-capacity Ultra models. Industry timing rumors place an official unveiling in late February with sales starting in early March, though Samsung has not confirmed these details.
Why it matters
- A wider telephoto aperture could materially improve zoomed low-light photos, a common weakness of long-range smartphone lenses.
- Faster apertures reduce the need for very long exposures, helping to limit motion blur and noise without relying solely on computational fixes.
- If a 16GB/1TB Ultra model sees wider distribution, Samsung could be responding to high-end buyer demand despite component supply pressures.
- Changes to primary and telephoto optics could alter how Samsung competes with other flagship makers on photographic versatility and night performance.
Key facts
- Leak attributed to Ahmed Qwaider on X.
- Alleged 50MP 5x telephoto aperture: f/2.9 (up from f/3.4 on S25 Ultra).
- Alleged primary 200MP sensor aperture: f/1.4 (up from f/1.7 on current model).
- Wider aperture generally allows more light, reducing noise and enabling faster shutter speeds.
- Rumors suggest the 3x telephoto may also get a slightly faster aperture, though that is not confirmed.
- Leaker claims a 16GB RAM / 1TB storage S26 Ultra variant may be offered with broader availability.
- Standard S26 Ultra models are said to ship with 12GB of RAM.
- Rumored official reveal timing: late February, with sales potentially beginning in early March.
- Report notes a broader DRAM and NAND supply crunch context affecting memory and storage availability.
What to watch next
- Confirmation from Samsung about official S26 Ultra camera specs and available memory/storage trims — not confirmed in the source.
- Independent low-light and telephoto image comparisons once review units are available — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether the rumored 3x telephoto aperture change and wider availability of the 16GB/1TB model materialize — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Aperture (f-number): The lens opening size; lower f-numbers mean a wider aperture that lets more light reach the sensor.
- Telephoto lens: A camera lens with longer focal length designed to magnify distant subjects, often used for zoomed photos.
- Primary sensor: The main camera sensor on a smartphone, typically used for most standard photos and often largest in resolution or size.
- Shutter speed: The amount of time a camera exposes the sensor to light; faster shutter speeds freeze motion but require more light.
Reader FAQ
Who reported the telephoto aperture change?
The claim was posted on X by leaker Ahmed Qwaider.
Will the 16GB/1TB Galaxy S26 Ultra be sold globally?
Not confirmed in the source.
When might Samsung announce the Galaxy S26 lineup?
Rumors in the report point to a late February reveal and early March on-sale window, but Samsung hasn’t confirmed this.
Is the 3x telephoto aperture change confirmed?
Not confirmed in the source.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's 5x camera may finally shine at night By Rajesh Pandey Published 18 minutes ago Rajesh started following the latest happenings in the world of Android around…
Sources
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's 5x camera may finally shine at night
- S26 Ultra Expected To Have New Lens and Wider Aperture
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Anticipated Telephoto Camera Upgrade
- The Galaxy S26 Ultra might finally get the telephoto lens it …
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