Leaks have offered the first real look at the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, revealing a subtle yet meaningful redesign. A newly surfaced case image from X user @TarunVats shows the device featuring a raised camera island housing three primary lenses — a shift away from the free-floating camera rings seen on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. This change confirms Samsung’s push toward a cleaner, more unified design language across its flagship line.
Refined Design and Camera Changes
The image, reportedly from a case manufacturer, suggests the Galaxy S26 Ultra will keep its signature flat sides and rounded corners, but introduces a new pill-style or island-shaped bump for the main camera setup. The fourth lens, laser autofocus, and flash are placed beside the raised module, balancing the rear design. Industry insiders note this change mirrors the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s camera aesthetic.
Samsung has also removed the thick Saturn-style camera rings, supporting a sleeker finish and better case compatibility. Reports indicate that the frame material and rear glass composition remain largely unchanged, keeping the premium matte texture from the S25 Ultra.
Launch timeline and specifications
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S26 series in January 2026, just after CES — consistent with its previous launch schedules. The Ultra model will likely run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, offering a serious performance boost in ray tracing and AI computing tasks. Some markets may see Exynos 2600 variants as part of Samsung’s dual-chip strategy.
Battery capacity remains at 5,000 mAh to meet air transport regulations, though internal optimizations promise greater efficiency. The display is expected to use an M14 OLED panel with improved brightness, contrast, and HDR calibration.
Design consistency and lineup changes
While the Galaxy S26 Edge has reportedly been discontinued, Samsung plans to keep the Ultra and Plus models, focusing on a balanced lineup with unified design language. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is shaping up to be the flagship centerpiece — combining refined aesthetics, upgraded thermals, and continued S Pen integration.
The leaked visuals suggest that Samsung is playing it safe on form factor this year, focusing instead on polishing the experience, improving material symmetry, and better integrating its AI features through One UI 8.1 and Galaxy AI 2.0 ahead of launch.