Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could solve a problem that's plagued smartphone cameras for years.

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The perfect balance of detail and brightness

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra concept image
(Image credit: Technizo Concept/YouTube)

A new leak indicates that Samsung could have found the sweet spot when it comes to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's main camera.

In a recent post on X, leaker IceUniverse detailed that users will be able to use the Camera assistant mode to activate a new 24MP photo mode on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. This new mode is stated to work for both the standard photo and portrait modes, but appears to be a software exclusive for at least the Galaxy S26 series, if not the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

IceUniverse then goes on to compare the image quality to that of Samsung’s existing Expert RAW camera app. Expert RAW can save a Galaxy phone's standard 12MP images in 16-bit RAW format, which offers more detail and dynamic range than regular single-frame images. According to IU's post, the images taken in the new 24MP mode still offer great detail, but avoid many of the pitfalls, such as over-sharpening details or creating purple fringing when taking a picture of someone's face or a backlit scene.

IU states that the new mode feels more like a daily use shooting mode, instead of one that aggressively chases extreme detail.

Why 24MP might be the sweet spot

SmartPrix renders of the galaxy s26 phones

(Image credit: SmartPrix / Tom's Guide)

While we don’t have any direct confirmation of what the main camera on the Galaxy S26 Ultra will be, we expect it to be the same 200MP main camera as the Galaxy S25 Ultra. That may make you wonder why you would even use a 24MP or 12MP shooting mode at all if you have 200 megapixels to play with at any time.

Here’s the thing: 200MP is great in certain situations, but there are some noticeable downsides. The problem is that higher resolution smartphone cameras struggle with low-light performance, which often leads to noisy images. Plus, the image files are noticeably larger and take up a lot more processing power.

iPhone 17 Pro vs Galaxy S25 Ultra held in the hand.

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

The solution for most phones is to use a technique called pixel binning, which combines multiple pixels together, lowering the resolution but improving the camera's light sensitivity and reducing the noise and file size. Currently, Samsung phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra reduce the images to 12MP, but that means the 200MP sensor is not being used to its full potential. So a 24MP default could be an ideal middle ground between these, while leaving both extremes open when the user wants or needs them.

This isn’t the only time we’ve seen a phone maker change to this higher resolution default. For instance, Apple uses a 24MP default for main camera photos on the iPhone 17 series, including the iPhone 17 Pro, which stands as the best camera phone we’ve tested.

Only time will tell if this rumor turns out to be accurate, and we won’t actually know for sure until we have a chance to test out the Galaxy S26 Ultra ourselves. On that note, the rumors all seem to agree that the next Galaxy Unpacked will be happening on February 25, meaning we likely won’t see the phone hit shelves until March.

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Josh Render
Josh Render
Staff Writer

Josh is a staff writer for Tom's Guide and is based in the UK. He has worked for several publications but now works primarily on mobile phones. Outside of phones, he has a passion for video games, novels, and Warhammer. 

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