Samsung is reportedly bringing back variable aperture technology for the main rear camera on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Tipster Ice Universe shared that the feature, which allows you to adjust the amount of light entering the camera sensor, could return after being removed from Samsung’s flagship devices.
Exclusive leak:
— God (@Vhsss_God) March 21, 2025
S26 ultra prototype with only 3 cameras…
200mp main
50mp uw
200mp ~4x camera
If you don’t want this voice so now so i can pass it to me
S-pen has bt in prototype aswell 🙏
Stacked battery 5500 mah has also been achieved already, now trying to squeeze more in
The South Korean tech giant introduced variable aperture lenses with the Galaxy S9 series in 2018. This feature enhances photo quality in different lighting conditions and provides better control over depth of field. However, it was later discontinued with the Galaxy S20 series. If the leak is accurate, the return of variable aperture could improve photography capabilities, especially in low-light environments.
Samsung may remove one zoom lens
Another leak from tipster @Vhsss_God suggests that Samsung might reduce the number of zoom lenses on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. A prototype featured only three cameras: a 200MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 200MP telephoto lens.
Variable aperture in Samsung Galaxy S26 ultra main Cam.#Samsung #GalaxyS26Ultra https://t.co/wv6E4YukO5 pic.twitter.com/l8Uf5myo9z
— Piyush Bhasarkar (@TechKard) March 12, 2025
For comparison, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has four cameras: a 200MP primary camera, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, a 50MP 5x telephoto camera, and a 10MP 3x telephoto camera. If Samsung removes one of the zoom lenses, it could be an effort to simplify the camera setup while maintaining high-quality zoom capabilities.
The same source also hinted at a possible return of Bluetooth functionality for the S Pen. This would be a notable change since Samsung removed Bluetooth-related S Pen features from the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The return of Bluetooth support could restore features like remote camera control and air gestures.
Bigger battery and new technology
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to come with a larger battery. Reports suggest Samsung has developed a 5,500mAh stacked battery for the device, which would be 10% larger than the 5,000mAh battery found in the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Additionally, Samsung is believed to be exploring silicon-carbon battery technology to enhance battery life. Some Chinese smartphone manufacturers have already adopted this technology, so Samsung should introduce it to keep up with competitors.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 series is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2026, with more details likely to emerge as the release date approaches.
