The Galaxy S25 Ultra hasn't even hit the shelves yet but it's already feeling ancient. That's because the phone continues to feature a display with a punch-hole camera. This technology was introduced in 2018 and debuted on the S series in 2019. In the smartphone world, six years is a lot, and Samsung gets that, which is presumably why it's testing a new design for the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Tipster kro says that a Galaxy S26 Ultra prototype exists without a camera hole cutout. This seems to hint that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will feature an under-display camera. This tech was first introduced with the Galaxy Z Fold 3.
A leak implies that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will have a under display front-facing camera.
This tech hides the camera under the screen, for an unobtrusive viewing experience. Instead of punching a hole in the screen, this tech lowers the pixel density, allowing for increased light penetration.
As wonderful as that sounds in theory, the truth is that UDC cameras are a step below pinhole cameras. However, the tech has come a long way since its introduction in 2021, and that, in combination with Samsung's image processing smarts mean that there isn't a huge parity between the results produced by the Galaxy Z Fold 6's UDC camera and a conventional front-facing camera.
The consensus is that it's not suitable for high-quality photos though. The reason it still makes sense to use it for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is that that phone has five cameras in total, including a second 10MP front-facing camera.
That's why, it might not be a good idea to embed the Galaxy S26 Ultra's front camera under the display. However, it appears that Samsung is merely testing the idea right now, and there's no saying that it will go ahead with it.
Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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