TL;DR
A leak suggests Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra will offer a 24MP capture option in its stock camera app rather than adopting it as the default. The mode reportedly must be enabled via an Advanced resolution setting, will apply to photo and portrait modes, and may take about three seconds to process each shot.
What happened
A recent leak attributed to @UniverseIce indicates Samsung plans to introduce a 24MP capture option on the Galaxy S26 series. Unlike Apple's iPhone 15 and later, which switched to 24MP as the default capture size, the S26 Ultra is said to require manual activation through an Advanced resolution toggle in Camera Assistant. Once enabled, the camera would save images at 24MP for both standard photos and portrait shots. The leak claims Samsung will tune the implementation for everyday use — prioritizing a balance between retained detail and file size — and avoiding some issues seen in Expert RAW's 24MP output such as over-sharpening and purple fringing. Despite the newer ISP in the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, processing a 24MP image is reportedly expected to take about three seconds. The feature is not planned for the Galaxy S25, and Samsung has time to adjust the software before the S26's expected early-March release.
Why it matters
- Higher-resolution captures can reveal finer detail in well-lit scenes, potentially improving image sharpness over 12MP defaults.
- Requiring manual activation gives users choice but means improved resolution won't benefit all photos by default.
- Longer processing per shot introduces a trade-off between image quality and responsiveness that could affect everyday shooting.
- If tuned well, stock-app 24MP could offer cleaner results than current third-party or expert modes without their artifacts.
- Unclear coverage across lenses and low-light conditions leaves open questions about consistency and fallback behavior.
Key facts
- Apple began using 24MP as the default capture size starting with the iPhone 15 in 2023.
- Leaker @UniverseIce says the Galaxy S26 Ultra will support saving photos at 24MP in photo and portrait modes.
- The 24MP option is reportedly not the default; it must be enabled via the Advanced resolution setting in Camera Assistant.
- Samsung already allows 24MP captures through the Expert RAW app on the Galaxy S25, but stock-app results are claimed to differ.
- The leaked implementation is said to be tuned for daily use to balance detail retention and file size.
- The leak suggests the stock 24MP mode will avoid Expert RAW's reported issues such as over-sharpening and purple fringing.
- Processing a 24MP image on the Galaxy S26 Ultra is reported to take around three seconds despite a newer ISP.
- The 24MP mode is reportedly not being backported to the Galaxy S25.
- Samsung's Galaxy S26 lineup is expected to arrive in early March, leaving time for further optimization.
What to watch next
- Whether Samsung enables 24MP capture across all rear cameras or limits it to the primary shooter — not confirmed in the source.
- If and how the phone will automatically revert to 12MP in low-light or other challenging shooting conditions — not confirmed in the source.
- Final processing time and default behavior after Samsung's official release and any software refinements prior to launch — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- 24MP: An image resolution specification indicating roughly 24 million pixels in a photo, which can capture more detail than lower megapixel settings when conditions allow.
- ISP: Image Signal Processor; a chip or component that handles tasks like noise reduction, sharpening, color processing and other camera image computations.
- Expert RAW: A photography app that gives users more manual control and saves higher-fidelity files meant for advanced editing workflows.
- Camera Assistant / Advanced resolution: A camera app section or setting that exposes higher-resolution capture modes or additional image-size options beyond the default.
Reader FAQ
Will the Galaxy S26 take 24MP photos by default?
According to the leak, no — 24MP will need to be enabled in the Advanced resolution option in Camera Assistant.
Will the 24MP mode be added to the Galaxy S25?
The source states Samsung will not bring this 24MP mode to the Galaxy S25.
How long will the phone take to process a 24MP photo?
The leak reports processing time of about three seconds per 24MP image on the S26 Ultra.
Will 24MP capture work on all rear lenses?
Not confirmed in the source.
Samsung Galaxy S26 looks set to copy one of iPhone’s best camera upgrades By Rajesh Pandey Published 10 minutes ago Rajesh started following the latest happenings in the world of…
Sources
- Samsung Galaxy S26 looks set to copy one of iPhone’s best camera upgrades
- Samsung Galaxy S26 appears to be getting a useful …
- Fresh details of Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's 24MP camera …
- Samsung Galaxy phones may add 24MP photos as …
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