Phones
Samsung’s best zoom camera sensors are skipping Galaxy phones

Samsung’s image sensor business is about to boom as Chinese phone makers are allegedly widening the use of ISOCELL zoom camera sensors. That said, the best ISOCELL zoom cameras would be seen on many phones from Chinese OEMs.
While China-based OEMs are expanding the utilization of Samsung’s best zoom camera sensors, Galaxy phones will continue to skip. Exact reasons are unclear, but the biggest is that Galaxy smartphones shouldn’t go bulky like Chinese ones.
Leaker IceUniverse claims that Samsung’s 200-megapixel telephoto cameras will be “widely adopted” in Chinese flagship phones. The devices will be equipped with ISOCELL HP3, ISOCELL HP5, and ISOCELL HP9 telephoto sensors.
Notably, some Chinese flagships already debuted with 200MP zoom sensors from Samsung. Meanwhile, 2025 and beyond years are going to see even broader adoption, heating up the smartphone camera race.
Why Samsung’s best zoom camera sensors are skipping Galaxy phones
Samsung’s best cameras aren’t seen in Galaxy phones is a long unanswered question. The company develops exclusive sensors for Galaxy flagships, but it comes much later than the rivals, who bring at least one or two generations.
No one’s stopping Samsung from equipping phones with modern cameras. However, it will come at a cost: major design shifts. You may have noticed Chinese flagships boast a bulky camera module, which changes drastically each year.

Image – Vivo X100 Smartphone
Samsung can’t compromise on Galaxy design philosophy to calm a portion of camera enthusiasts. The company focuses on practical improvements like elevating the photography experience that users love the most with innovative features.
200MP telephoto phones are already here, and it might be a new normal in the future. Meanwhile, the next year’s Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to retain almost the same camera specifications as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, leveraging AI.
Well, no one is stopping Samsung from making a limited edition Galaxy phone with monster camera specifications.
Phones
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE leak reveals surprise display, battery and charging upgrades

Samsung appears to be upgrading the display, battery, and charging of the Galaxy S25 FE. The company is likely to replace the Plus model with Edge in the Galaxy S26 series. Meanwhile, the next Fan Edition is getting closer to S25 Plus specs.
Flexible LTPO OLED display
A new report talks about the display specifications of the S25 FE. The device will retain a 6.7-inch panel, but it will have LTPO, enabling a 1Hz- 120Hz refresh rate. The screen’s resolution would be FHD+ with Dynamic AMOLED 2X tech.
Samsung Display is reportedly prepping to start mass production of flexible OLED screens for the Galaxy S25 FE. It’s a notable hardware upgrade, as previous Fan Edition phones were equipped with a legacy rigid OLED display.

Source – Wireless Power Consortium
Upgraded battery and charging
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE could be equipped with a 4,900mAh battery and 45W charging. It’s a 200mAh upgrade in battery, and charging is going up from 25W. These are the same battery and charging specs as the S25 Plus.
We may not see the Galaxy S25 Plus successor ever. However, the Korean tech giant is bringing flagship-grade features to its FE model. With these upgrades, the Galaxy S25 FE will have significant sales potential in the market.
Other specifications
Galaxy S25 FE may be the thinnest Fan Edition by Samsung ever. It would be just 7.4mm thick and weigh around 190 grams. It’s great to see that Samsung’s reducing thickness and weight despite upgrading the battery capacity.
Under the hood, the device will be powered by the Exynos 2400 chip. The storage configurations are expected to be 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, paired with 8GB RAM. Is 8GB RAM enough to handle One UI 8 resources and Galaxy AI features?
Additionally, the Galaxy S25 FE will replicate image sensors from the S24 FE, including a 50-megapixel primary, a 12-megapixel ultrawide, and an 8-megapixel telephoto; however, the selfie snapper will have a new 12-megapixel sensor.
Samsung will launch the Galaxy S25 FE later this year. It will come with Android 16-based One UI 8 pre-installed. With seven years of software support, it will beat the Galaxy S25 lineup with an additional OS upgrade at last.
Phones
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra may pack Sony’s 1-inch-class 200MP camera

Samsung is reportedly considering a wild upgrade for its next Ultra flagship. A new rumor hints that the Galaxy S26 Ultra might drop Samsung’s ISOCELL HP2 camera and adopt a Sony-made 200MP sensor of nearly 1-inch size.
Weibo leaker FocalDigital claims that the Galaxy S26 Ultra could be equipped with a 200MP camera from Sony. The said image sensor might be nearly 1-inch big (1/1.1 size), which is said to be “super powerful.”
Samsung introduced the Galaxy S23 Ultra as its first 200MP camera phone. The S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra reused the same ISOCELL HP2 image sensor. Recent leaks revealed that the S26 Ultra would stick to a 200MP sensor for the main camera.
The latest rumor aligns with previous inputs, keeping the sensor resolution the same at 200MP. Meanwhile, the Korean tech giant might be dropping its in-house ISOCELL camera in favor of a Sony-made CMOS for photography upgrades.

Source – Focal Digital / Weibo
Back in March 2025, it was rumored that Sony’s 200MP camera is in the works. This sensor might be used by Android flagships with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset. That said, the S26 Ultra heading to Sony’s 200MP camera doesn’t seem impossible.
Samsung’s HP2 and HP9 are mobile camera sensors with 200MP resolution. There’s another solution from Omnivision dubbed OVBoB for those vendors who don’t want to use Samsung’s ISOCELL image sensor.
Meanwhile, the 200MP camera that Sony is reportedly developing features a physical size of 1/1.1-inch. It is practically much bigger than ISOCELL HP2 and ISOCELL HP9, which are 1/1.3-inch and 1/1.4-inch, respectively.
As the competition rises, Samsung can’t hold on to upgrading Ultra specs. Apple is also aggressive on iPhone specs, which forces the Galaxy maker to set new standards. While it’s a rumored info, the S26 Ultra may upgrade camera capabilities with a Sony sensor.
Phones
Galaxy S26 could be Samsung’s first true emotion-driven AI Phone

Mauro Porcini, Samsung’s Chief Design Officer, published his Editorial on Samsung Newsroom, shedding light on the AI and design strategy across Galaxy products, which gives us a glimpse of what could come with the Galaxy S26 series.
As the Design Chief highlighted, Samsung is focusing more on a connected ecosystem, rather than nourishing standalone devices. The next year’s Galaxy S26 series will integrate seamlessly with other Samsung products through AI, including:
- Galaxy Watches
- Galaxy Buds
- Galaxy Book Laptops
- Samsung Smart TVs
- Samsung Home Appliances
Beyond AI Phone, the South Korean tech giant is advancing Galaxy AI, aiming to make tech feel human. That said, the Galaxy S26 series might understand better when you need rest or suggest content to lift your mood.
With the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung might focus on seamless integration with its TVs, wearables, and appliances to create a unified, intuitive user experience. The devices may anticipate needs quietly, rather than requiring constant attention.

Source – Samsung
Galaxy AI may be upgraded to learn preferences to offer relevant suggestions based on habits. With a connected ecosystem (watch/ring/appliances) the phones might be able to sense users’ moods and optimize with users’ emotional states.
The scope penned out by Samsung’s Design Chief has just made the Galaxy S26 a big deal. It could be the company’s first true emotion-driven AI phone. Well, it also means a less notable physical design shift in the next year’s flagships.
A recent revelation suggests that the Galaxy S26 might see a major upgrade, Plus is retiring to promote the Edge, and Ultra remains as it is. The focus will continue to be on AI, along with sequential hardware upgrades.
Samsung has just revealed three new foldable phones that are available for pre-order. You can purchase these devices and save up to $1,100 in the US. The company is scheduled to put the handsets on open sale on July 25.
Phones
Samsung Galaxy S26 family appears with puzzling model numbers

On July 9, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Flip 7, and Flip7 FE foldable phones. A new finding of model numbers suggests that Samsung is planning a big shift for its next mainstream flagship lineup, the Galaxy S26 series.
The GSMA database recently listed three models: Galaxy S26 (SM-S942), S26 Edge (SM-S947), and S26 Ultra (SM-S948). This confirms Samsung is working on the S26 series, but there’s no Galaxy S26 Plus, which would likely be SM-S946.
What the model numbers suggest
Samsung’s model numbers offer clues about the hierarchy:
- Galaxy S26 (SM-S942): Likely upgraded with Plus-like features, such as a larger display or better battery.
- Galaxy S26 Edge (SM-S947): A sleek, mid-tier option replacing the Plus model (succeeding the S25 Edge).
- Galaxy S26 Ultra (SM-S948): The flagship with top-tier specs, continuing Samsung’s premium tradition.

Source – SammyPolice
Samsung’s model numbers usually follow a pattern. For instance, Galaxy S25: the base was SM-S931, the Plus was SM-S936, and the Ultra was SM-S938. Everyone expected the S26 to be SM-S941, but it’s SM-S942, which is a clue that something’s different.
The base model is replacing the usual “1” with “2” – suggesting that the Galaxy S26 may get some fruitful upgrades, probably a better display, battery, and charging. The S26 Edge (SM-S947) and S26 Ultra (SM-S948) stick to the usual numbering.
Well, it’s all based on the listing of Galaxy S26 family’s model numbers on the GSMA database. The smartphone may be announced nearly 6 months later, and dramatic changes might happen. So we suggest you take this info as a pinch of salt.
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Phones
Samsung developing a Z Fold 7 twin and it’s a design masterpiece

Yesterday, Samsung revealed three foldable phones, but it’s not done yet; a Galaxy Z Fold 7 twin, the W26, is also in the pipeline with modern specs and design.
Samsung W26’s 3C certification, reported by IT Home, confirms its place in Samsung’s foldable lineup. As a likely counterpart to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, it’s designed for the Chinese market.
The certification provides key details about its features:
- Model Number: SM-W9026, the follow-up to the W25 (SM-W9025).
- Charging: It supports 25W fast charging with an EP-TA800 adapter.
- Satellite Connectivity: It can connect via satellite, perfect for staying in touch in remote spots.
That satellite connectivity is a standout, letting you stay connected in areas where regular signals don’t reach, something Apple and Huawei are also interested in.
The W26’s certification hints at an October or November 2025 launch in China. It’s part of Samsung’s push to offer exclusive foldables for Chinese buyers.
Last year’s W25, a China-exclusive version of the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, launched in November 2024 and looked stunning. It gives us clues about what the W26 might bring.
Here’s what we’re thinking:
Fancy Materials: The W25 rocked a gold aluminum frame and a ceramic back for a luxe feel. The W26 might keep that vibe, maybe with slick brushed metal or a matte finish to wow business users.
Super Slim: The W25 was slimmer than the Z Fold 6, at 4.9mm unfolded and 10.6mm folded. The W26 could go even thinner, possibly hitting the Z Fold 7’s 4.2mm unfolded and 8.9mm folded.
Tough Build: The W25 had an IP48 rating for water and dust resistance. Expect the W26 to match or beat that, maybe with a tougher hinge or a titanium display layer.
Better Screen: The W25 had a 200MP camera and a 4,400mAh battery. The W26 might borrow the Z Fold 7’s 8-inch display with super-thin 1.0mm bezels for a clean, modern look.
Now that the W26 has cleared 3C certification, it’s likely in the final stages of development. We might see pre-orders in China around late October or early November, just like the W25.
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