According to recent leaks, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could feature a 1/1.1-inch 200MP sensor made by Sony, marking a shift from the company’s long-standing use of its own ISOCELL sensors in Ultra models.
The information comes from a Chinese tipster posting on Weibo under the name Fixed Focus Digital. The source claims that Samsung is testing a large 200MP Sony CMOS sensor, potentially for use in the Galaxy S26 Ultra expected in January 2026.
If accurate, this would mark the first time Samsung has used a Sony main sensor in its top-tier Galaxy S phone. It would also be Sony’s first-ever 200MP sensor for smartphones.
A 1/1.1-inch sensor would be significantly larger than the 1/1.3-inch ISOCELL HP2 sensor found in the last three Galaxy S Ultra phones.
A physically larger sensor typically means improved light collection, allowing for sharper photos, clearer details in low-light conditions, and better performance when cropping into digital zoom.
This kind of upgrade would address a criticism the Galaxy S series has faced in recent years, especially when compared to camera-focused Chinese rivals like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo.
There is some uncertainty about whether Samsung will be ready to implement the Sony sensor in time for the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Some industry watchers suggest it might debut a year later in the Galaxy S27 Ultra instead. This wouldn’t be entirely surprising given earlier reports that Samsung was planning to delay major camera upgrades in the S series until 2028.
In addition to the main sensor, the rest of the camera setup may see more modest improvements. Rumors point to a revised lens layout and a slightly higher-resolution 3x telephoto sensor, possibly moving from 10MP to 12MP.
The 5x periscope telephoto is expected to remain at 50MP. The ultra-wide camera will likely continue with a 50MP sensor as well.
Reports also mention enhancements to autofocus speed and software optimization through Samsung’s ProVisual Engine, which handles computational photography tasks like HDR, motion processing, and noise reduction.
It is worth noting that until Samsung makes anything official, all of these details remain speculative.
However, if the Sony 200MP sensor does make it into the S26 Ultra, Samsung could regain momentum in smartphone imaging, an area where it has lost some ground.
The company has traditionally focused on software processing, often relying on smaller sensors and advanced image algorithms.
Moving to a physically larger sensor would reflect a more hardware-oriented strategy and could allow Samsung to better compete with phones like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Oppo Find X8 Ultra, which already use large Sony sensors.
I’ve been obsessed with tech for as long as I can remember, so much so that I’ve become the unofficial “tech support” for my entire family. Whether it’s fixing gadgets, explaining specs, or recommending the best buys, I love breaking down tech for everyday people. That passion led me to writing about tech. When I’m not testing gadgets or writing reviews, you’ll probably find me hiking or doom-scrolling car listings (still hunting for my first ride, wish me luck, lol).