Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra photography: what's new and what's improved

On paper, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and its predecessor look almost identical. They have the same 200MP main sensor, four-camera system and resolution on the ultrawide lens. For anyone who already owns a Galaxy S25 Ultra, that might feel like a reason not to upgrade to the newer model. But photography is rarely decided by spec sheets, and when you put these two phones side by side in the real world, the differences become more stark. Here, you’ll find out what is new with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and whether it truly beats the S25 Ultra hard enough to be worth the upgrade.

TL;DR

• The Galaxy S26 Ultra keeps the same 200MP four-camera system as the S25 Ultra but upgrades the aperture on the main and 5x telephoto lenses, making a meaningful difference in low light.
• New AI features* – including smarter scene recognition, Photo Assist**, and Super Steady Horizontal Lock*** for video, add creative tools the Galaxy S25 Ultra doesn't have.
• For Galaxy S25 Ultra owners, it's a modest upgrade, and if you’re new to the Ultra range, the S26 Ultra is the definitive version.

* Samsung account login is required for certain AI features. Galaxy AI features are provided for free. Future releases may include additional advanced features that are offered as part of a paid subscription plan. Different terms may apply for AI features provided by third parties.

** Photo assist requires network connection and Samsung account login. A visible watermark is overlaid on the saved image to indicate it was generated.

*** Super Steady results may vary depending on editing method and/or shooting conditions.

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Low-light photography: Which device wins?

How much difference does the new aperture make?

The biggest hardware change between the two phones is the aperture on the main camera: f/1.4 on the S26 Ultra versus f/1.7 on the S25 Ultra. Roughly 47% more light reaches the sensor, and it shows in practice.

If you shoot the same dimly lit restaurant interior on both phones, you’ll notice that the Galaxy S26 Ultra consistently captures more at the same shutter speed. Rather than pushing the ISO higher to compensate for low light (the part that makes the image grainy), the wider aperture lets the phone work with the detail that’s actually there. This results in cleaner images, more natural colours and sharper fine detail, and therefore less time editing.

The 5x telephoto moves from f/3.4 to f/2.9 and switches from a periscope to a new All Lens on Prism (ALoP) design. For a travel photographer trying to isolate a subject at distance in fading evening light, that extra stop is the difference between a shot that works and one that doesn't.

Verdict: Low Light: Galaxy S26 Ultra wins. The aperture upgrade is the single most impactful hardware change, and it's most visible after dark.

Is the zoom noticeably better on the S26 Ultra?

At everyday zoom ranges (1x to 10x) the two phones are very close. Side-by-side comparisons show comparable sharpness and dynamic range at 3x, and the ultrawide cameras are pretty much identical. The gap widens at 5x and beyond, where the Galaxy S26 Ultra's updated optics and brighter lens produce more detail on distant subjects, particularly in lower light.

For most creators using zoom for situations like focusing in on a detail in a busy scene or pulling in a subject across a room, the Galaxy S26 Ultra's AI-enhanced zoom delivers more reliable results. Both phones offer 100x AI Zoom, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra's sharper 5x base has a noticeable impact. At extreme zoom, neither phone is a substitute for a long lens, but the S26 Ultra is the more forgiving of the two.

Verdict: Zoom: Galaxy S26 Ultra edges it, particularly at 5x and beyond. At 1x–3x, the difference is minimal.

AI camera tools: How much better is the S26 Ultra?

Which AI features are new or significantly improved?

This is where the Galaxy S26 Ultra pulls out in front. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is a capable AI camera, but the newer model adds tools that genuinely change how quickly a creative can move from capture to finished image.

Photo Assist is great for portrait and editorial work because it applies AI-powered adjustments such as exposure, colour, subject isolation instantly, without needing a separate editing app. Galaxy AI's scene recognition automatically detects and optimises settings for the scene in front of the lens, whether that's a backlit street scene or a foggy landscape, producing more balanced results automatically, with no intervention needed.

For video-focused creators, the Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces APV codec support, which is a format designed for near-lossless quality at manageable file sizes, with LOG recording for colour grading in post. The Galaxy S25 Ultra doesn't have this. And then there's Super Steady with Horizontal Lock, the software stabilisation mode that keeps video level through a full 360-degree rotation. For content creators or event videographers, and anyone who shoots without a rig, it removes the most common reason a clip ends up in the bin.

Verdict: AI and video tools: Galaxy S26 Ultra wins clearly. Photo Assist, Horizontal Lock, and APV support are all absent on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

So, should Galaxy S25 Ultra owners upgrade?

Honestly, it depends on how much you shoot after dark and how much video you make. If low-light photography is central to your workflow (that could mean gig photography, street shooting at night, travel in a range of diverse conditions) the aperture upgrade alone makes a meaningful difference. If video is part of your process then Horizontal Lock and APV support will be genuinely useful.

For anyone who mostly shoots in daylight and doesn't edit much video, the Galaxy S25 Ultra remains an excellent camera that the Galaxy S26 Ultra only improves on fairly modestly. The jump is there, but it is a refinement rather than an overhaul. For new buyers entering the Ultra range for the first time, though, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has a better camera overall.

Verdict: Overall: Galaxy S26 Ultra. The aperture upgrade, improved Nightography, and new AI video tools make it the more complete creative tool, especially for low-light and video work.

If you want to find out what Galaxy S26 Ultra's upgraded camera can do for your photography and video work, visit the Samsung website.