Samsung added a new 24MP photo mode to Galaxy S26 and then chose to hide it

Despite bragging about high megapixel count on their phone cameras, manufacturers almost always set the default shooting mode to a much lower resolution. This is done by “binning” or combining pixels into super-pixels, which allows for sharper and better-lit images. Phones can also process smaller images faster, reducing the chance of the photo being blurred when it’s taken without a tripod. The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 200MP and 50MP cameras, for instance, actually shoot 12MP images by default, though you can switch them to 50MP or 200MP with a selection menu in the Camera app. The same also applies to the newly launched Galaxy S26, but Samsung is opening up another option between 12MP and 50MP for those who want both high resolution and faster processing.

Along with the standard 12MP and 50MP modes, the Galaxy S26 is also getting the option to take pictures at 24MP. In a recent post detailing Galaxy S26’s new features, a Samsung Community moderator explains that the 24MP mode offers 50MP-like details, thanks to an “AI Fusion” technique. This is combined with 12MP’s multi-frame processing, where multiple images at different exposure levels are stacked together to create a single, detailed, and well-illuminated image. The 24MP shooting mode is available for all Galaxy S26 phones, but there’s a caveat if you want to use it.

Based on the community post, the Galaxy S26’s 24MP camera mode is not natively available in the main Camera app. Instead, it must be activated via the Camera Assistant, a Good Lock module that is specifically designed to enable hidden camera features.

To enable the 24MP mode on Galaxy S26, you must open Camera Assistant and go to Photos > Advanced resolution options in the app, where you must enable the 24MP mode. Camera Assistant can be downloaded from the Galaxy Store or by using this link.

The option currently appears limited to the Galaxy S26 series. However, with practically the same camera hardware, we can expect older Samsung phones to get it too, perhaps when One UI 8.5 starts rolling out.