Galaxy S26 could get a camera glow-up and battery boost

A new leak pins down major camera and battery changes for Samsung’s next mainstream flagships, and they’re more meaningful than the usual year-over-year tune-ups. As per details found by Smartprix in leaked firmware, both the upcoming Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus are poised to deliver noticeable improvements in imaging and endurance. Considering the S25 series drew criticism for modest hardware updates in these areas, the shift feels intentional.

Per the firmware data, Samsung will likely replace the long-running 50MP ISOCELL S5KGN3 sensor with a newer 50MP ISOCELL S5KGNG main camera. The telephoto camera could also get an upgrade, moving to a 12MP ISOCELL S5K3LD from the previously used 10MP S5K3K1, while the ultrawide could stick with the existing 12MP Sony IMX564. If accurate, that trio should deliver sharper zoom shots and better primary performance. Though the unchanged ultrawide still leaves room for improvement.

Video features could also see a bump. Both phones are expected to support Samsung’s Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec at up to 4K/60 on both the front and rear cameras, which also suggests strong baseline capability from the underlying silicon. As usual, Samsung is expected to split chipsets by region by offering Exynos 2600 globally and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in markets like the US. The good news, however, is that APV support is reportedly consistent across both.

The new leak also suggests Samsung isn’t looking to shrink battery life this year. The Galaxy S26 is said to come with a 4,300mAh battery, which would be a slight upgrade from the S25’s 4,000mAh cell. The S26 Plus, meanwhile, reportedly sticks with the same 4,900mAh capacity found in the S25 Plus, meaning there’s no bump at that tier.

Even so, this generation could still feel more efficient in real-world use. Given Samsung’s recent push toward slimmer frames and possible Qi2 magnetic charging support, it’s promising to see capacity moving up rather than down. A 300mAh improvement on the standard S26 should help casual and moderate users get closer to true all-day stamina, especially when paired with a more efficient chipset. While the S26 Plus doesn’t see an upgrade on paper, better thermal management and silicon improvements from the rumored new processors should translate to slightly longer runtime compared to last year.

From a buyer’s perspective, these changes matter. If you’ve skipped recent S-series updates because the improvements felt too subtle, this generation may finally move the needle. A newer main sensor, a sharper telephoto lens, and larger batteries directly address two of the most common pain points for non-Ultra users.

Of course, nothing is confirmed yet. Still, the sensor IDs and battery capacities come from firmware strings and align with other independent reports, adding weight to the leak. If these specs hold, the S26 duo could represent a smarter step forward for Samsung’s core flagships by keeping the familiar formula while delivering upgrades that actually count.