Samsung is reportedly gearing up for a big leap in camera tech with the upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup. While the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 are already official, eyes are now turning to what’s next in the non-foldable Galaxy S-series. 
Set to debut in early 2026, the Galaxy S26 family may drop the ‘Plus’ model in favor of a new high-end ‘Edge’ edition-and it’s bringing major upgrades.
Internally dubbed ‘Next Paradigm’ or NPA, the Galaxy S26 series follows the ‘Paradigm’ (PA) codename used for the Galaxy S25. Previous generations carried codenames like ‘Eureka’ (S24) and ‘Diamond’ (S23), suggesting a tradition of branding each series with lofty ambitions. Though the S26 may visually resemble its predecessor, don’t assume it’s all minor tweaks-especially when it comes to photography.
According to reports, the ‘NPA2’ variant will boast a 50MP ultra-wide camera-an enormous jump from the 12MP sensors used on both the Galaxy S25 Plus and S25 Edge. This signals Samsung’s intent to consolidate the mid-tier models into one premium ‘Edge’ variant, effectively replacing both the Plus and Edge with a single, powerful device.
If this pans out, we may see a streamlined trio: the standard Galaxy S26, the new S26 Edge with advanced camera hardware, and the top-tier Galaxy S26 Ultra. That Ultra model is rumored to retain its 200MP main sensor and include a 50MP telephoto camera offering 5x optical zoom. The rest of the Ultra’s camera setup remains under wraps, and so does most of the base S26’s hardware.
Still, there’s chatter about the standard S26 receiving its own main camera enhancement, meaning even Samsung’s entry-level flagship could pack a photography punch. While the design might not be revolutionary, the internal upgrades-especially for shutterbugs-could still make the S26 series a major step forward.
We’re still in the early stages of the rumor cycle, but if Samsung follows through, 2026 could be the year its camera game levels up-without needing to fold.