The upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will feature a significantly larger selfie camera punch-hole—measuring 4mm in diameter—making it the biggest front camera cutout ever used on any Galaxy Ultra model. This unexpected design change has sparked controversy among Samsung enthusiasts who value the brand’s traditionally minimal bezels.
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Breaking Samsung’s Design Tradition
According to prominent leaker Ice Universe, the S26 Ultra’s camera hole represents a departure from Samsung’s longstanding commitment to the smallest possible camera cutouts among Android flagship phones. The 4mm diameter marks a noticeable regression from the sleeker S25 Ultra design.
| Aspect | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Hole Size | 4mm diameter | Smaller (exact size undisclosed) |
| Field of View | 85 degrees | Standard FOV |
| Front Camera | 12MP Sony IMX874 | 12MP (previous gen) |
| Display Material | M14 OLED | M13 OLED |
| Launch Window | Early 2026 | Already available |
The Reason Behind the Change
Despite initial speculation about cost-cutting, leaker PhoneArt reveals a functional explanation: Samsung has increased the front camera’s field of view to 85 degrees. This wide-angle capability matches the S25 Ultra’s main rear camera specifications, enabling better mobile photography capabilities.
Practical Benefits Over Aesthetics
The enlarged camera hole serves clear purposes beyond mere design:
Enhanced Group Selfies: The 85-degree FOV captures significantly more people and background, eliminating the need to squeeze everyone into frame.
Vlogging Advantages: Content creators can capture more environment context during video recording, improving production quality without external equipment.
Video Call Improvements: Remote workers and students benefit from wider framing that shows more of their surroundings during professional calls.
M14 OLED Display Factor
The S26 Ultra features Samsung’s next-generation M14 OLED material set, delivering improved brightness and energy efficiency. However, this advanced panel reportedly requires different structural design, potentially forcing the enlarged camera aperture and slightly thicker bezels.
Cost vs. Performance Trade-off
Industry analysts suggest the design change relates to the S26 Ultra’s expensive component selection. The device exclusively uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip instead of Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2600, creating substantial cost pressures that may have influenced display engineering decisions.
Design Impact Analysis
The larger punch-hole does impact the S26 Ultra’s front aesthetics, particularly noticeable when compared to the cleaner S25 Ultra design. However, Samsung appears to be softening this visual change through rounder corner design, which may help the larger cutout blend more harmoniously.
Competitive Context
While the 4mm camera hole represents Samsung’s largest Ultra variant cutout, it remains significantly smaller than Apple’s pill-shaped notch on iPhones. Among Android manufacturers, several Chinese brands already feature similar or larger camera cutouts, suggesting Samsung is aligning with broader industry trends.
Other Galaxy S26 Ultra Upgrades
Beyond the controversial camera hole, the S26 Ultra brings substantial improvements:
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 exclusive processor
- M14 OLED display with enhanced brightness
- 200MP Samsung HP2 main camera
- 50MP periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom
- One UI 8.5 software
- Improved AI camera features
Consumer Perspective
While design purists may lament the larger punch-hole, practical users prioritizing selfie camera quality and functionality will likely appreciate the enhanced field of view. The trade-off between aesthetics and capability reflects Samsung’s strategic pivot toward functional improvements.
Launch Timeline
Samsung is expected to announce the Galaxy S26 series in January 2026 with global availability in February. The lineup includes the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra models, all debuting with One UI 8.5.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s larger camera hole represents a rare design compromise from Samsung, trading its traditionally minimal aesthetic for enhanced photographic capabilities and advanced display technology.
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Sources: Samsung Official | Ice Universe Leaks
