Samsung Galaxy S26 just tipped for another camera letdown — don't expect a new selfie camera

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Contain your disappointment, Samsung Galaxy S26 series may use a three-year-old front camera

Leaked CAD render of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
(Image credit: OnLeaks / Android Headlines)

Unfortunately, the Galaxy S26 has just been rumored to use the same selfie camera as the past few years of Samsung flagships

WinFuture writer Roland Quandt, posting on Bluesky, claims that next year's Samsung flagship phones will use a 12MP selfie camera. While he doesn't make it clear, this camera may be the same one first seen on the Galaxy S23 series in 2023.

Talking sensors

Samsung is often criticized for how long it sticks with a particular camera sensor. For instance, there is currently frustration among fans about rumors claiming Galaxy S26 Ultra (and S27 Ultra ) will use the same 50MP 5x telephoto camera as the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Plus, looking at Samsung's foldables, this year's Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the first to use a proper inner selfie camera rather than the lackluster under-display unit that appeared in Z Folds since 2021's Galaxy Z Fold 3.

Apple iPhone 17 review.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide / John Velasco)

Perhaps the idea of the same selfie camera for the third year running stings a little worse this year since Apple just gave a massive front camera upgrade to the iPhone 17 series. Apple upped the resolution, adding Center Stage tracking support and using a square sensor to allow portrait and landscape shots from any position.

But user jealousy isn't going to outweigh whatever internal calculations Samsung uses to determine when it's time to switch camera sensors on its phones.

Despite using some supposedly outdated camera tech, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is still top of our best camera phones guide, keeping the iPhone 17 Pro in second place. It goes to show that well-rounded performance matters much more than the specific specs of one camera.

Samsung will likely be revealing the Galaxy S26 series in January 2026, a year after the Galaxy S25 series arrived.

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Richard Priday
Richard Priday
Assistant Phones Editor

Richard is based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, tablets, gaming, and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's also written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.

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