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Samsung's Galaxy S26 series is shaping up to be an incremental update — and if you were hoping for a refreshed selfie camera, this latest rumor will be underwhelming. Early leaks suggest the front-facing camera will remain the same 12MP autofocus unit found on recent Galaxy flagships.
Same selfie sensor, familiar results
According to reliable leaker Roland Quandt, all Galaxy S26 models will ship with a 12MP front-facing camera featuring autofocus. That mirrors the S25, S24 and S23 lineups, which have relied on the same sensor for years. For many users that’s not inherently bad: the 12MP AF selfie module produces pleasing skin tones, good dynamic range and solid detail in most lighting conditions.
Still, stagnation becomes noticeable after four generations. Remember when the Galaxy S22 Ultra offered a 40MP selfie camera? Samsung has moved away from higher-resolution front sensors since then, leaving some photographers and power users disappointed.
Where upgrades would matter more
What frustrates the rumor mill is not just the lack of change up front, but where improvements seem to be absent on the rear camera side as well. Tipsters have described the S26's rear camera changes as minimal, and some of the upgrades that are planned don’t target the features many users have been asking for — for example, ditching the 10MP 3x telephoto has been a repeated request, yet that upgrade appears unlikely.
Imagine wanting better telephoto performance for distance shots or more flexibility in portrait framing, only to find Samsung focused upgrades elsewhere. That gap between expectations and reality is why some fans feel the S-series looks a bit stale this cycle.
What this means for buyers
- If you prioritize selfies: the current 12MP AF camera remains very capable for everyday photos and social media content.
- If you want cutting-edge front-camera specs: you might be left wanting more, especially if you compared to older outliers like the S22 Ultra.
- If telephoto performance is important: keep an eye on full reviews — early reports suggest telephoto upgrades are limited, so alternatives or last-generation flagships might be better choices.
Whether the Galaxy S26 lineup will deliver enough meaningful camera improvements overall remains to be seen. For now, the selfie camera story is simple: familiar hardware, familiar results — and not the shake-up some users hoped for.
Source: gsmarena
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