Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to bring an upgraded Telephoto camera of 12MP resolution. The utilized megapixels could be fewer than the sensor’s original specs, and Samsung might rely heavily on AI upscaling.

Insider Phoneart reiterated that the Galaxy S26 Ultra may bring a 12MP Telephoto camera, but the utilized resolution may remain 10MP. Samsung may put AI-powered image upscaling to work to make 10MP shots 12MP.

There’s no information on why Samsung is continuing this unusual practice. A new image sensor is being adopted, but the company is downsizing hardware.

The source claims Samsung uses software-driven image upscaling so every shot, regardless of which camera is used, maintains 12-megapixel resolution by default.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with a 200MP primary, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP periscope, 10MP telephoto, and a 12MP selfie camera. By default, high-res sensors capture shots at 12MP, which can be maximized manually.

The 10MP telephoto shots are upscaled by a software trick, taking the resolution to virtually 12MP. This practice might be driven by extensive research and development, and probably space constraints.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra could come with a new telephoto camera, while the other four sensors may remain the same as the S25 Ultra. The new telephoto could be 12MP, but only 10MP of it is said to be utilized by the device.

Samsung is likely to hold the Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25, 2026. It could be an in-person event, which will take place in San Francisco. The first sale is expected in the first week of March, a 4-week delay from this year.

Source – Phoneart (@UniverseIce/X)

The post Galaxy S26 Ultra’s new Telephoto camera may rely on AI upscaling appeared first on Sammy Fans.