Rumors are swirling that the Samsung Galaxy S25 and S26 will get the same main camera as the Galaxy S24
It might be time to temper your expectations regarding camera upgrades for the Samsung Galaxy S25, due out in 2025, and the Galaxy S26, due out in 2026: the latest rumor is that these phones will get the same main camera as the current Samsung Galaxy S24.
The rumor in question comes from a recognized tipster Ice Universewhich has a strong track record when it comes to Samsung predictions. The main camera sensor in question is a 50-megapixel, 1/1.56-inch sensor.
Samsung has been using this sensor for the main rear camera since the Samsung Galaxy S22, which launched in 2022. If this rumor is true, it means there have been no upgrades to the core camera component for four years.
Samsung could easily argue that the software improvements make up for this, while the secondary cameras (currently a 10-megapixel, 1/3.94-inch telephoto sensor and a 12-megapixel 1/2.55-inch ultra-wide sensor) may get separate upgrades – but it would still be a rather disappointing roadmap for the series.
The upgrade cycle
Sadly, Samsung decided to stick with the same sensor on the S25 and even the S26. Desperate. https://t.co/wYAdxS98W1September 21, 2024
While significant year-over-year upgrades to phone cameras are rare, Samsung risks being left behind in this particular area if things turn out as predicted. The new Google Pixel 9, for example, comes with a 50-megapixel main camera sensor in a 1/1.31-inch format.
The larger the sensor, the more light it can capture and the better the resulting photos (at least in theory). There are only so many AI tricks and manipulations you can do to improve the appearance of images beyond the limitations of the hardware.
In June, another source suggested that not much would change when it comes to the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus cameras next year. However, they could come with more RAM to help with artificial intelligence processing.
If you’re looking for better cameras in 2025, you might want to look at the Galaxy S25 Ultra. That particular model is rumored to be getting some major new camera upgrades, albeit upgrades to the secondary cameras on the rear rather than the primary ones.