Galaxy S26 vs S26 Ultra vs S26+: Cameras and Which to Buy

While Samsung’s Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra may appear remarkably similar when facing forwards, flip them over and things get a little more interesting, thanks to differing camera line-ups.

The Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ pack identical triple-camera arrays on the rear, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra ups the ante with an even brighter 200MP primary camera, a macro-capable 50MP ultrawide and a second 5x telephoto camera.

So, which Galaxy S26 phone should you buy? In this guide we look at everything photographers need to know when deciding between Samsung’s latest flagships. We compare the camera hardware on offer and comb through reviews to highlight the pros and cons of each handset’s camera. And with Samsung having increased its prices in October 2026, we also consider whether the Ultra is still worth the premium.

We also summarise the other key differences between the three phones in a handy table further down.

Camera specs: S26 and S26+ vs S26 Ultra

Samsung is listing the same cameras on the S26 and S26+. The 10MP 3x telephoto is identical on all three models, as is the 12MP selfie camera. The Ultra’s other cameras are either brighter, bigger or both.

For more details on each lens on the Ultra, please refer to our S26 Ultra camera guide.

Price, screen, battery and the rest

Here's a quick run-down of Samsung's US list prices for the three phones. And here are all of the phones' other spec differences compiled in one place.

Prices have risen in the US: Samsung raised the prices of the Galaxy S26 series across the board by $100 ($200 for the 1TB version of the S26 Ultra) on October 1, 2026, and the differences between the models remain the same. Particularly noteworthy: with this, the Galaxy S26+ (512GB) and the Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB) are now both available for $1,399.99, and those who were planning to splurge on additional storage capacity could perhaps better invest that money in the better camera of the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Outside, the anti-reflective display glass of the S26 Ultra makes a difference: according to Notebookcheck, the display is visibly easier to read in sunlight than that of the S26+. In Gallery, you can even make precise edits using the S Pen, but it lacks Bluetooth functionality and can’t be used as a remote shutter release. Our S Pen camera remote guide covers the alternatives.

What the 200MP camera and 5x lens change in practice

It’s nice to see spec sheets, but it’s what these extra bits of hardware can do in real life, faced with actual photographic subjects, that interests us most. So here’s what to use on each phone.

Low light is the biggest gap. Low-light pictures taken with the S26 exhibited more noise, colour casts and lack of detail in DXOMARK’s testing, and the organisation rated low-light photography as one of the Ultra’s key areas of improvement. The larger 1/1.3 inch main camera sensor (about 44% more sensor area than the S26’s 1/1.56 inch, by our reckoning) and brighter f/1.4 lens (versus f/1.8) should help.

When zooming in on faraway subjects at concerts, sporting events and when photographing wildlife, the Ultra has a distinct advantage over the S26, thanks to its 50MP 5x camera (which Samsung claims delivers optical-quality 10x pictures). Pictures taken with both phones’ 3x cameras in bright light will look similar, but zoom further and the S26’s smaller camera sensor will be asked to do more work (i.e. crop), while the Ultra will switch to its 50MP 5x camera.

For close-up pictures of flowers and other small objects, the Ultra’s ultrawide camera can focus closer, and you can capture 200MP images using its main camera at 1x. Our S26 Ultra zoom guide explains every zoom step and the distances that work.

What reviewers found side by side

In Tom's Guide’s own testing, shooting over 200 images with the S26 and S26 Ultra, the Ultra performed better in most categories (daytime, dynamic range, macro, panorama, portrait, zoom and low-light), while the S26’s pictures had better colours (after the Ultra’s reds bled in a shot of peppers), and selfies and ultrawide shots were considered comparable. Overall, though, Tom’s Guide concluded that the S26 and S26 Ultra are much closer than their prices suggest, except for zoom and macro shots.

DXOMARK’s results agree, awarding the S26 Ultra an overall score of 157 (compared to 146 for the S26), with a particularly sizeable lead in telephoto (141 vs 116) and bokeh (165 vs 150). The S26 did, however, manage a slightly higher photo score for ultrawide (143 vs 139), while video scores were much closer (153 vs 151). DXOMARK hasn’t yet tested the S26+.

Meanwhile GSMArena pitted the S26+ against the S26 Ultra and found that photos taken at 1x zoom with either device in daylight were very similar in colour and dynamic range, with the S26 Ultra only really pulling ahead at 5x and 10x, with the S26+’s images looking noticeably blurrier at these settings.

Elsewhere, Android Central dubbed the S26 Ultra’s 200MP main camera ‘the star of the show’ both day and night, and named its portrait mode the best for shooting people and pets. It did, however, note that colours from the S26 Ultra’s ultrawide camera can be more saturated and lack dynamic range compared to other phones. Digital Camera World gave the S26 Ultra’s camera an 8 out of 10, singling out the 3x camera as its weakest camera and Samsung’s image processing as aggressive with noise reduction and saturation. And Engadget noted that thanks to its larger apertures, the S26 Ultra’s main camera takes markedly better images in low light.

Reviews of the S26+’s cameras have been cooler. TechRadar gave them 3.5 out of 5 stars and wished Samsung had used the opportunity presented by a price hike to improve the hardware, while Notebookcheck thought colours were good but complained of excessive sharpening in bright conditions and poor detail in darker scenes.

Where the S26 and S26+ hold their own

• Daylight at 1x: Exposure, colour and contrast are nearly identical, with just a hint of extra detail in the Ultra’s photos (when zoomed in) according to Tom’s Guide. Keep in mind that all three phones shoot 12MP images by default.
• Daylight at 3x: All three phones use the same 10MP 3x camera, so in good lighting you’re mostly comparing image processing.
• Ultrawide: According to DXOMARK the S26 takes marginally better ultrawide pics, but Tom’s Guide declared a tie. You really only notice the difference when shooting closer to your subject with the ultrawide camera.
• Selfies: Declared a tie by Tom’s Guide. All three phones use the same 12MP selfie camera.
• Video: DXOMARK found the S26’s videos close to the Ultra’s. All three phones can shoot 8K30 video and support Samsung Log and Horizontal Lock. You’re giving up the Ultra’s 4K120 and APV video. Check out our Log video guide for information on shooting and grading Log.
• Photo mode and Expert RAW: You get the 24MP option in Photo mode as well as Expert RAW app support on all three phones.

The Ultra has limits of its own. Autofocus isn’t as effective in low light on the ultrawide (DXOMARK). Digital Camera World found you won’t be able to get as close with the 5x and main cameras as you can with the S25 Ultra’s (Samsung says to stand at least 80cm away when using the 5x). APV video takes up a lot of space, as a 10-second clip took up around 2GB of space in Digital Camera World’s tests, so you might want to make use of an external SSD.

S26 vs S26+: same cameras, different phone

For those looking to make the most of their photography, the S26+ is the trickiest phone of the three to recommend. It offers the same camera hardware as the S26 for $200 more, and is $200 cheaper than the Ultra, which has a better main camera sensor and a 5x telephoto lens that the S26+ doesn’t have.

There were some very minor differences in the cameras on GSMArena’s review units. The S26+ captured marginally crisper photos in low light than the S26 in GSMArena’s tests, and the phones’ software identified different image sensors. But other than that, Samsung’s spec sheets indicate that the S26 and S26+ have identical cameras, and most other reviewers have treated them as such.

That said, the S26+’s 6.7-inch QHD+ display can be helpful for framing shots and double-checking focus, and its 4,900mAh battery and support for 45W wired charging could come in handy if you’re shooting a lot of video throughout the day. The S26 is 23g lighter and 4.1mm narrower than the S26+, so it’s easier to toss in a jacket pocket or small bag and take along for picture-taking adventures around town or on holiday.

Which should you buy for photography?

• If you often take pictures of concerts/sport, night pictures, pictures of wildlife, indoor pictures of small kids etc, then you’ll find the extra $400 for the S26 Ultra compared to the S26 worth it. Otherwise, if most of your pictures are in daylight (people, places, food etc), you can save $400 and be happy with most things the S26 can do. Prices as of October 1, 2026 are $999.99 and $1,399.99, respectively, which is the same $400 difference as at launch in March.
• The S26+ and S26 have the same cameras, so pay the extra $200 for the former only if you want the larger screen and battery.
• You get quite a bit of extra camera performance for just $200 more for the S26 Ultra compared to the S26+: brighter and bigger main camera sensor, autofocus on the ultrawide camera, the 5x camera, quicker charging, and battery life that GSMArena found to be almost the same. The $200 price premium dates back to launch and still holds true as of October 1, 2026 ($1,199.99 and $1,399.99, respectively). Unless weight is important to you, the S26 Ultra is the better buy for the camera. You also get the S Pen.

• Galaxy S26: travel and street photographers looking for something small and light. Also anyone that doesn’t mind shooting mostly between 1x and 3x in good lighting conditions.
• Galaxy S26+: those that want a larger screen and battery than the base Galaxy S26 model but don’t want the size/weight of the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Also those that rarely zoom beyond 3x.
• Galaxy S26 Ultra: parents that want to capture the action at school plays and sporting events. Anyone that often finds themselves shooting in low light conditions or at a distance. Concert goers. Those that want to shoot video at 4K120 or in APV.

After selecting your phone, our S26 and S26+ camera guide and S26 Ultra camera tips cover the settings you’ll need to change first, and the S26 Ultra settings page has starting values by situation. Discounts change often, so check our S26 Ultra price guide and your wireless carrier for any special rates or promotions before paying list price.

Frequently asked questions