DXOMARK tested the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, giving its camera evaluation points that decide ranking in their chart. The reviewers had an extensive look at the improvements that are discussed in detail in their recent article.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra scored 157 points in the camera test conducted by DXOMARK. Last year’s Galaxy S25 Ultra hit 151 points. The new device offers an improved camera, but it didn’t influence DXOMARK scores much.

Let’s talk about where the Galaxy S26 Ultra DXOMark score actually improved.

The f/1.4 aperture on the main sensor is legitimately useful. Low light performance got noticeably better, with improved detail, lower noise, and more stable color. White balance improved across the board alongside color accuracy in portraits.

Noise control is better on the telephoto module, which pairs nicely with more natural rendering. Fewer of those weird sporadic failures that plagued the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 3x telephoto and 5x periscope camera system.

Top smartphones by camera score – DXOMARK

The top four right now are the iPhone 17 Pro at 168, the OPPO Find X8 Ultra at 168, the vivo X300 Pro at 171, and the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra at 175. Well, DXOMARK scores don’t really mean that you should buy alternatives for camera.

1. Huawei Pura 80 Ultra
2. Vivo X300 Pro
3. Oppo Find X8 Ultra and Apple iPhone 17 Pro
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18. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

What DXOMark actually found?

Exposure remains unstable, noise is still worse than competitors, and autofocus reliability in low light or with the ultra wide continues to lag. These are the exact problems Samsung’s had for two generations.

Worse, faces are often captured with fewer fine details, and the autofocus sometimes just refuses to lock onto eyes in portrait shots. Meanwhile, the depth of field is so shallow in group shots that only the front person stays sharp.

Video tells the same story: improvements in color, noise control, and stabilization don’t change the fact that top performers maintain a measurable edge in demanding conditions. Autofocus in video is slow to adapt, especially in low light.

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