Samsung’s next major flagship lineup, the Galaxy S26 series, isn’t expected to land until January or February next year. However, that doesn’t mean we won’t be treated to early leaks related to the upcoming trio of high-end smartphones. With that in mind, we’re now getting our first glimpse at the rear panel design of all three devices.
An image purportedly depicting dummy units of the Galaxy S26 Pro, Galaxy S26 Edge, and Galaxy S26 Ultra was posted by tech reviewer Sonny Dickson on X/Twitter. While there are evidently some differences between the models shown here and their predecessors, the rear camera arrangement of the Galaxy S26 Edge bears a striking resemblance to the upcoming Apple iPhone 17 series.
Apple’s new phones won’t go live until September 9th, but leaks leading up to this point have pretty much confirmed what to expect. This revamp of the rear camera layout on the Galaxy S26 Edge, if true, would come as a bit of a surprise, especially given what we’ve seen from the recent Galaxy S25 Edge.
Samsung appears to be retaining the dual-camera layout, which is consistent with the current Edge variant. Meanwhile, the rear camera flash on the Galaxy S26 Edge has been relocated to the right of the sensors, rather than right below them.
The Galaxy S26 Pro and Galaxy S26 Ultra look relatively unchanged
Source: X/Sonny Dickson
Supposed dummy units of the Galaxy S26 Pro, Galaxy S26 Edge, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra
As for the Galaxy S26 Pro and the Galaxy S26 Ultra revealed as part of this leak, they don’t appear too dissimilar to their last-gen variants. One change that’s instantly noticeable is the presence of a camera island on both devices.
Prominent leaker Ice Universe speculates that the additional space around the Galaxy S26 Edge’s camera may be used to accommodate some of the device’s components, thereby achieving the rumored 5.5mm thickness. This should also help the company house a 4,200mAh battery (up from 3,900mAh) on the Galaxy S25 Edge. However, this is only speculation, and it’s way too early to tell what Samsung will actually do with all that space.
People familiar with Galaxy flagships over the past few years will recall Dickson’s role in leaking the Galaxy S23 in early 2023, as well as the sharing of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6’s dummy units ahead of their release last year. So there’s enough reason to trust the legitimacy of this particular leak.
It’s worth noting that Apple isn’t by any means the first to adopt a horizontal camera island, as Google Pixel phones have used that design for some time now. Additionally, Xiaomi’s sub-brand Poco has also produced phones featuring a similar rear camera design.
