Leaks around Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra are starting to pile up, and the latest one gives us our first look at what appear to be protective cases for the flagship device. 
With the phone widely expected to launch in January, accessory makers are already finalizing their designs, which means details about the handset are trickling out faster than Samsung might have hoped.
The standout change visible in these leaked cases is the oval-shaped camera island on the back. This is a departure from the S25 Ultra and earlier models, which featured individual cutouts for each lens. The oval design instantly makes the S26 Ultra look different, but it also raises questions about what Samsung has altered inside the camera system. Previous rumors hinted that the camera bump would be nearly twice as thick as on the S25 Ultra, a shift partly explained by the body of the phone slimming down overall. However, the thickness suggests Samsung may be hiding something significant – potentially a larger main sensor or a lens with a much wider aperture.
What makes this particularly intriguing is the contradictory information about the rest of the camera setup. Reports say the S26 Ultra will keep the 5x telephoto lens but could actually downgrade the secondary telephoto compared to the S25. The ultrawide hasn’t been the subject of major leaks yet, which leaves a big question mark over whether it could be the hidden upgrade that explains the chunkier island. Until we see official details, the mystery remains.
Fans are already debating whether Samsung is innovating or simply recycling ideas. Some think the new design looks too generic and resembles cheap aftermarket cases. Others argue the Ultra line peaked with the S23 Ultra, which still had its 10x zoom lens and arguably the most balanced camera system. There’s also chatter about whether Samsung is playing it safe while rivals in China and even Apple are moving faster in both hardware and video performance. Whatever the truth, it’s clear that Samsung’s design and software choices continue to spark heated discussions across the tech community.
As always, the leaks are only part of the story. Samsung will likely continue refining its software, with One UI still regarded by many as smoother and more feature-packed than rival skins such as OriginOS, ColorOS, or even OxygenOS. For now, all eyes are on the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s official unveiling, where we’ll see if the oval camera island is more than just a design tweak and whether Samsung can prove the Ultra still deserves its name.
2 comments
honestly looks really diff from older ultras, not sure if good or bad 🙄
originos and coloros smoother?? only if u dunk the phone in a pool bro 😂 nails on chalkboard otherwise