Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra isn’t even official yet, but controversy over its camera has already kicked into overdrive. The latest uproar comes from well-known tipster Ice Universe, who claims the company’s new 3x telephoto sensor will actually be a downgrade compared to last year’s model.
The straw that broke the camel’s back
In a vacuum, it might have caused less controversy
The surprising leak and outrage surrounding it are partly unexpected due to recent, relatively good news on the S26 camera front. While the 50MP, 5x lens appears in line for an increased aperture and general enhancement, the other telephoto setup doesn’t look so lucky.
According to Ice Universe, the S26 Ultra’s 3x lens may be technically capable of 12MP capture, but will be cropped to 10MP, and sport an f/2.4 aperture, 1/3.94” size, and 1.0µm pixels — smaller and weaker than the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s IMX754 sensor. In Ice Universe’s words: “I propose that Samsung camera leaders step down, not just [talk] about it. What they have done is really too much.”
That doesn’t sound like hyperbole. Ice Universe has followed up the leak with a full-scale campaign against Samsung’s camera division, publishing an open letter to TM Roh, head of Samsung’s mobile business, and launching a Change.org petition demanding leadership changes.
A boiling point for Galaxy fans
Camera quality is one of a few ways the Oppo Find X8 outshines the S25 Ultra.
Ice Universe’s frustration isn’t new. Samsung’s Ultra cameras have faced growing criticism in recent years for falling behind rivals like Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo in computational photography, low-light performance, and portrait quality. But the rumored S26 Ultra downgrade seems to have been the breaking point.
His petition, already gaining traction among loyal Galaxy fans, outlines eight major grievances against Samsung’s camera division:
- Hardware stagnation: Years of reusing aging sensors like the ISOCELL HP2 have left Samsung lagging behind Chinese competitors that push out fresh, larger sensors every cycle.
- Technological lag: Persistent issues with HDR, shadow noise, white balance, shutter lag, and over-sharpening remain unresolved.
- Ignoring user feedback: Complaints about unnatural skin tones, neon lighting errors, and noisy night shots have gone unanswered.
- Copycat strategy: Samsung is accused of blindly chasing Apple’s “natural tone” look while inheriting its flaws —black crush, dim HDR, and lifeless skies.
- Poor skin tone rendering: Portraits of human subjects are said to appear off-color compared to competitors like Oppo and Vivo.
- Slow software updates: Older Galaxy flagships miss out on new optimizations, creating a fragmented and inconsistent experience.
- Lack of AI innovation: While Google, Huawei, and others lead with computational photography, Samsung’s algorithms remain conservative and inconsistent.
- Collapsed consumer trust: The result, the tipster argues, is a decline in brand influence and user loyalty.
What fans are demanding
The petition doesn’t just call for the head of Samsung’s camera division to be replaced, it demands a full overhaul. That means adopting next-gen sensors, variable aperture lenses, 200MP telephoto options, faster software updates, and an AI-first approach to computational photography.
The enthusiast behind it all insists Samsung must also establish direct communication channels with users, acknowledging feedback rather than ignoring it.
Whether Samsung listens is another matter. The company is still months away from unveiling the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but the uproar has already put pressure on management. For die-hard fans, the once-unquestioned leader in mobile photography is in danger of falling behind for good.
And if Ice Universe’s movement gains enough steam, Samsung may have no choice but to respond before the S26 Ultra ever hits shelves.
