Galaxy S26 may adopt one of the key iPhone camera improvements

Samsung appears to be preparing to introduce one of the most notable iPhone camera innovations of recent years into the Galaxy S26 lineup – shooting at 24 megapixels. Apple has been using a similar approach since 2023, starting with the iPhone 15, and it’s proven to be a good compromise between detail and file size.

Samsung appears to be preparing to introduce one of the most notable camera innovations of recent years – 24 megapixels.

According to the leak, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will indeed get a 24MP shooting mode, but it won’t work the same way as its competitor. By default, the smartphone will continue to capture 12MP images, and the new mode will have to be manually activated in the advanced settings via Camera Assistant.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra will have a 24MP mode, but it won’t work the same way as the competition.

How the 24MP will work in the Galaxy S26

After activating the corresponding option, the smartphone will be able to save photos in 24MP resolution both in normal photo mode and when shooting portraits. Technically, the ability to take such photos already exists in previous models via a separate professional app, but the new mode in the standard camera will be configured differently.

Samsung is reportedly optimizing the processing of 24-megapixel shots specifically for everyday shooting. The emphasis will not be on maximizing detail at all costs, but on balancing image sharpness, naturalness, and file size. This is expected to avoid the typical problems that have plagued 24MP shooting in the past, including over-sharpening and color halos around the edges of objects.

The quality of the final images is described as “very clean and accurate”, with a noticeable boost in detail compared to 12MP. That said, it remains an open question whether the mode will be available for all rear cameras or just the main module. It’s also possible that the system will automatically downscale the resolution to 12MP in difficult lighting conditions.

And it’s possible that the system will automatically downscale the resolution to 12MP.

Limitations and performance

Despite the more powerful image processor, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will reportedly take around three seconds to process a single 24MP photo after pressing the shutter button. For some users, this delay may seem noticeable, but it’s argued that the gain in image quality justifies the wait.

Samsung reportedly has no plans to add a 24-megapixel mode to the Galaxy S25 lineup, despite the use of high-resolution sensors in these smartphones. Thus, the new feature will remain an exclusive to the next generation.

The Galaxy S26 lineup is expected to be released in early March, and until then, Samsung has time to further optimize its processing algorithms. If the company brings the 24MP mode to stable and fast performance, it could be one of the key arguments in favor of an upgrade for mobile photography enthusiasts.