Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra renders just leaked — and there's a disappointing camera rumor

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Rounder and yet more of the same

Galaxy S25 Ultra from the back
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

As we slide into the back end of 2025, the rumor mill has started to turn its grinding wheel toward 2026. With that, we have a pair of leaks concerning next year's flagship Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

The first bit of info comes to us via Android Headlines and regular render leaker OnLeaks, who produced renders based on CAD drawings of the handset. And it seems the S26 Ultra will look slightly different from the Galaxy S25 Ultra with rounder corners and the new camera bump.

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

It seems to confirm a similar mock-up created by regular Samsung leaker Ice Universe from earlier in September. The S25 Ultra ditched the sharp corners of the S24 Ultra and the S26 series looks to be getting even curvier with far rounder edges.

It's unclear from the renders but the S26 Ultra is allegedly keeping the S Pen stylus, which is also supposed to get a little bit rounder.

The other noticeable design difference is the camera bump. You can see the lenses are now situated on a raised platform. This bump is supposed to measure 4.5mm, over half of the total 7.9mm rumored thickness of the phone.

The S25 Ultra, in comparison, has the lenses nearly flush with the body. It also appears that the S26 Ultra cameras ditch the rings that had a tendency to fall off the S25 Ultra.

It's unclear from the image, but the bezels are also supposed to be thinner.

Disappointing camera update

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

For those concerned about the cameras on the S26 Ultra, we may have some bad news for you.

According to SamMobile, the cameras on the entire S26 lineup are reportedly going to remain virtually the same. So the S26 Pro will retain the 50MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP 3x optical zoom as the Galaxy S25.

The Galaxy S26 Edge, replacing the Plus, is the only one that looks to be upgrading its cameras. It should have the same 200 MP wide sensor, while upgrading the ultra-wide will go up to 50MP from 12.

As for the Ultra, it allegedly will feature the same ISOCELL HP2 200MP main sensor, 50MP ultra-wide, and 50MP 5x optical zoom telephoto. The fourth lens may be the same 10MP 3x optical zoom telephoto but that one has not been revealed yet.

Once again, Samsung may be relying on AI and software solutions to improve the quality of its images.

Samsung was fairly handily beat in our iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra photo face-offs, though it's flagship performed well with macro shots and zoom rounds. If Samsung is keeping its cameras largely the same, this is disappointing news.

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Scott Younker
Scott Younker
West Coast Reporter

Scott Younker is the West Coast Reporter at Tom’s Guide. He covers all the lastest tech news. He’s been involved in tech since 2011 at various outlets and is on an ongoing hunt to build the easiest to use home media system. When not writing about the latest devices, you are more than welcome to discuss board games or disc golf with him. He also handles all the Connections coverage on Tom's Guide and has been playing the addictive NYT game since it released.

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