Is Samsung using a newer periscope lens on the Galaxy S26 Ultra? Here’s what we know (Updated)

Replace: March 6, 2026 (9:12 PM ET): Samsung has confirmed in a assertion to SammyGuru that the Galaxy S26 Extremely does certainly make the most of ALoP tech.

Unique article: March 6, 2026 (05:25 AM ET): Samsung reserved most of the spotlight upgrades on the Galaxy S26 collection for the Galaxy S26 Extremely, together with a wider aperture on the major digicam and the 5x telephoto digicam. One change that flew below the radar is that the 5x digicam is not a periscope zoom lens. As a substitute, Samsung has switched to a totally different lens sort for the 5x zoom digicam.

Galaxy S26 Extremely has a totally different 5x optical zoom digicam setup

A report from GSMArena notes that the new Galaxy S26 Extremely makes use of a “conventional” lens design for its 5x optical zoom digicam, with the lens components and the sensor parallel to the cellphone. In distinction, the S25 Extremely makes use of a periscope lens design for its 5x optical zoom digicam, wherein a prism bends gentle 90°, so the lens components and the sensor are perpendicular to the cellphone.

Due to this alteration, the Galaxy S26 Extremely’s 5x optical zoom digicam has a poorer minimal focus distance of 52cm. In distinction, the Galaxy S25 Extremely’s 5x optical zoom digicam might focus at 26cm and past.

For individuals who love using the telephoto digicam for close-up photographs, that is a noticeable downgrade — although it’s vital to caveat that most individuals use the 5x zoom digicam for zoom photographs on far-away topics.

The report additional notes that the totally different lens assemblies create totally different bokeh. The Galaxy S25 Extremely produces a extra rectangular bokeh for out-of-focus lights, whereas the Galaxy S26 Extremely produces a extra oval/round bokeh.

Samsung’s specs and advertising for the Galaxy S26 Extremely make no point out of a “periscope,” whereas these for the Galaxy S25 Extremely do. The report alludes to a motive for the lens swap and says it’s seemingly not as a consequence of the wider aperture, however doesn’t but share the actual discovering.

Is Samsung using ALoP on the Galaxy S26 Extremely?

There’s hypothesis that the Galaxy S26 Extremely makes use of Samsung’s ALoP (All Lenses on Prism) expertise for its zoom lens. In an ALoP resolution, the sensor sits perpendicular to the cellphone, however the lens components sit on prime of the prism (fairly than in between the prism and the sensor), parallel to the cellphone.

This enables for a smaller digicam module whereas permitting for a quicker aperture. This also needs to clarify the round bokeh (since the rectangular prism isn’t the first entry level for gentle on this setup).

Nonetheless, an ALoP setup can’t be thought-about a “conventional” lens design, because it combines perpendicular and parallel components, so we’re interested by GSMArena‘s actual findings on the Galaxy S26 Extremely’s 5x optical zoom digicam since they are saying it goes again to a “conventional” lens design.

Confusingly, whereas Samsung Semiconductor doesn’t publicly classify ALoP as a “periscope” zoom digicam, the use of a prism in the digicam module to bend gentle by 90° does technically make it a “periscope” zoom digicam. ALoP merely reconfigures the structure of what is known as a “standard folded zoom” digicam module — periscope zoom cameras with the visibly rectangular lens opening.

Thus, Samsung’s hesitation in assigning the phrase “periscope” to the Galaxy S26 Extremely’s digicam setup stays unexplained. Samsung’s Cell division typically neglects a deep dive into technical specs, so it’s not completely stunning that it doesn’t point out both ALoP or periscope zoom in any advertising supplies.

We’ve reached out to Samsung for clarification on the Galaxy S26 Extremely’s 5x optical zoom digicam: whether or not it makes use of the standard folded-zoom design or the newer ALoP design, and whether or not it’s nonetheless categorized as a periscope zoom digicam. We’ll preserve you up to date when we hear again from the firm.