Samsung’s cost-cutting may leave the Galaxy S26 with old cameras

Due to rising component prices and in a bid to keep the pricing unchanged, Samsung will reportedly stick to the same camera setup on the regular Galaxy S26 models as its predecessor. This means any imaging improvements will only come from a more powerful ISP and processing improvements.

A report from The Elec claims that Samsung initially planned to upgrade the rear cameras of the Galaxy S26 this year and raise its price accordingly. However, it has changed its plans since then to keep the price in check. Apple not increasing the base iPhone 17’s price also influenced Samsung’s decision.

Samsung has largely used the same camera setup on its non-Ultra flagship Galaxy models since the 2023 Galaxy S23. That model marked the jump from a 12MP sensor to a 50MP unit, though it didn’t noticeably improve image quality.

With the Galaxy S26 sticking to the same 50MP primary, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3x telephoto cameras, expect it to largely deliver the same imaging quality as its predecessor.

Due to the last-minute change in decision, Samsung is now redesigning some components of its upcoming flagship phones. That’s led to a delay in their mass production as well. Only the S26 Ultra supposedly goes into production this month, with the assembly of Plus and base models delayed until early next year.

You’ll have to wait longer than usual for the Galaxy S26

This could also explain the rumored delay behind the Galaxy S26’s February launch. For the last few years, Samsung has unveiled its flagship Galaxy S phones in January. But a seemingly last-minute cancellation of the Galaxy S26 Edge, driven by poor demand and design changes to the base model to keep its price in check, has pushed mass production back by a few weeks.

To prevent a hefty increase in the phone’s Bills of Material (BOM), Samsung will also reportedly go back to using its in-house Exynos 2600 chip, at least on the non-Ultra models.

Even after all this, expect some Galaxy S26 models to cost more due to the steep rise in DRAM and NAND prices in recent weeks. The rise is too high for the company to absorb through supply-chain management or other cost-cutting measures.