Samsung’s next Ultra could finally fix its weakest long-lens link. A well-known leaker, Ice Universe, says the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 50MP 5x periscope camera is moving to an f/2.9 aperture from the previous f/3.4. On paper that’s a modest change; in practice, it’s the sort of upgrade that can transform low-light zoom, reduce blur, and deliver more natural portrait compression at 5x.
Why a wider aperture at 5x matters
At the same focal length, aperture controls how much light reaches the sensor. Going from f/3.4 to f/2.9 increases light intake by roughly 37% (about half a stop). That extra light lets the camera use faster shutter speeds or lower ISO. Indoors, where 5x modules tend to stumble, that can be the difference between a soft, noisy shot at 1/20s and a cleaner frame at 1/30–1/40s.
Telephoto sensors in phones are already fighting physics. Small pixels, folded optics, and long focal lengths mean less light per pixel and more risk of handshake. A brighter aperture gives the image pipeline more headroom, so multi-frame fusion and noise reduction don’t have to work as hard. Expect cleaner detail retention and fewer watercolor textures in dim situations if this change pans out.
Depth of field also becomes a touch shallower. You won’t get DSLR-level blur from a compact sensor, but at around 115–120mm equivalent, f/2.9 should deliver more convincing, optical background separation. That reduces reliance on segmentation masks that can clip hair or miss fine edges.
How it compares to today’s tele champs
Competitors have been pushing brighter telephoto optics for a while. Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max uses a 5x “tetraprism” lens at f/2.8. Google’s Pixel 8 Pro also runs a 5x f/2.8 periscope. Huawei went further with the P60 Pro’s 3.5x unit at a remarkably bright f/2.1, and vivo’s X100 Pro is known for a fast mid-tele at f/2.5. Against that backdrop, Samsung’s recent 5x at f/3.4 has looked conservative—and dim.
Independent lab testing and real-world reviews have consistently noted that long-zoom performance is where many flagships diverge at night. In evaluations by outlets that conduct controlled telephoto tests and by camera benchmarking firms, brighter lenses often hold onto color and micro-contrast better after denoising. Bringing the S26 Ultra’s 5x closer to f/2.8 territory is a sensible catch-up that aligns with broader industry optics trends.
Portraits at true 5x: more compression, less fakery
Photographers love 85–135mm for portraits because of flattering compression and natural subject isolation. A 5x camera on a ~24mm main equates to roughly 120mm—right in the sweet spot. With f/2.9, the S26 Ultra should produce more believable background blur without aggressive edge detection. Expect cleaner separation around glasses, hair, and textured clothing, plus smoother highlight roll-off in bokeh balls.
There’s a knock-on benefit for autofocus, too. More light helps phase-detect AF modules lock faster and more confidently in dim scenes, which is crucial when shooting people at telephoto where even tiny focus errors are obvious.
What to watch beyond the f-number
Aperture is only one lever. Sensor size, pixel architecture, optical stabilization, and image processing will decide how big the real-world gains are. If Samsung pairs f/2.9 with robust OIS and refined multi-frame stacking, we could see sharper handheld 5x shots at night with less ghosting and better color preservation.
There are trade-offs. Opening the lens can expose more optical aberrations—edge softness, chromatic fringing, and vignetting—unless the lens group and coatings are upgraded. Tuning the ISP is key to avoid overzealous noise reduction that erases the extra detail a brighter lens can capture.
Finally, remember this is a leak, not a spec sheet. Ice Universe has a strong track record on Samsung optics, but final hardware could shift before launch. Keep an eye on whether the 5x module’s sensor size changes, how close-up focus is handled (many periscopes struggle at short distances), and whether computational features like long-zoom Night mode or 5x Portrait get specific improvements.
If the move to f/2.9 is real, it addresses one of the Ultra line’s most persistent complaints: lackluster low-light reach. It won’t rewrite physics, but it could finally make Samsung’s 5x a strength rather than a caveat—especially for indoor portraits and evening cityscapes where the previous lens too often fell behind brighter rivals.