Do you bear in mind the primary Extremely cellphone? It’s well known because the Galaxy S20 Extremely, and options a number of new firsts for Samsung’s cellular expertise lineup. It additionally set the trade normal and ushered in a brand new period, a lot as the unique Galaxy Word impressed the large-screen period that has turn into the norm at this time.
The Galaxy S20 Extremely introduces a number of recent options that show Samsung might innovate in smartphones. These included a 108MP primary digicam, twin telephoto cameras — together with a 48MP periscope telephoto lens able to “100x House Zoom” — and a big 5,000 mAh battery. It additionally included 8K video recording, a 40MP selfie digicam, and as much as 16GB RAM.
Article continues beneath
An up to date digicam system with a pictures equipment
The Galaxy S26 Extremely has a stable all-around digicam, nevertheless it does pale compared to a few of the options discovered on its three key present and upcoming rival Extremely units.
All three key opponents — the Xiaomi 17 Extremely, Vivo X300 Extremely, and Oppo Discover X9 Extremely — both have or are anticipated to supply an optionally available pictures equipment. Xiaomi deserves credit score for kicking off this pattern, whereas the others adopted go well with. Though the Vivo and Oppo Extremely telephones have not been formally launched but, we’ve already seen the previous at MWC and heard loads of leaks in regards to the latter, a lot of which have come from the corporate itself.
All three telephones function a pictures equipment that extends the cellphone’s built-in zoom past what the Galaxy affords. Primarily based on the Vivo X300 Professional and Oppo Discover X9 Professional pictures kits, this consists of the power to increase the optical zoom to 10x or extra, an extended 200x most zoom, and — within the case of Vivo — a number of lens decisions.
The Galaxy S26 Extremely, in the meantime, has two telephoto lenses. The 10MP telephoto affords 3x optical zoom, whereas the 50MP affords 5x optical zoom. The previous is designed for portraits, however has been ever-present for a few years.
It’s additionally an space that the competitors has firmly overwhelmed, and Samsung might stand to improve its built-in telephoto sensors.
The case for the up to date telephoto setup
The largest case for Samsung to replace its telephoto setup is the Oppo Discover X9 Extremely. Though it received’t be launched till subsequent month, Oppo’s Chief Product Officer — and likewise Co-Founder/CEO of OnePlus — Pete Lau has already confirmed that it will likely be coming to international markets.
One other leak, this time from a publication in Bulgaria and reported by GSMArena, revealed key particulars: the Discover X9 Extremely will possible function a 200MP primary digicam, a 200MP periscope telephoto digicam with 3x optical zoom, a 50MP periscope telephoto digicam with 10x zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide digicam.
The Discover X9 Extremely is shaping as much as be a beast of a digicam cellphone, and we already know what its chief competitors has. Apart from Samsung, the Xiaomi 17 Extremely launched globally at MWC with a 50MP primary digicam, 200MP periscope telephoto with variable aperture, and a 50MP ultrawide digicam.
In the meantime, the Vivo X300 Extremely has been largely confirmed — through Vivo’s personal Blueprint Imaging Expertise Communication Convention — to supply a 200MP primary digicam, a 200MP periscope telephoto digicam, and a 50MP ultrawide lens.
As talked about, the Vivo X300 Extremely additionally comes with the G2 teleconverter equipment, which incorporates two extendable lenses, and there’s one other space the place Vivo is closely teasing that the brand new X300 Extremely will stand out: video recording.
Samsung and Apple have large competitors in video recording
We went hands-on with the Vivo X300 Extremely at MWC 2026, and except for the core specs, one factor is for sure: Vivo is aiming large for video on the X300 Extremely.
First, the cellphone can shoot 4K at 120 fps from all rear cameras in 10-bit Log and Dolby Imaginative and prescient. That is cinema-grade video from a cellphone, and it’ll be enhanced by a brand new customized taking pictures rig. There’s additionally a Professional video mode and higher colour science when taking pictures movies.
Just like the Oppo Discover X9 Extremely, the Vivo X300 Extremely has but to be launched, however Vivo confirmed it should additionally arrive globally this yr. That’s three wonderful Extremely telephones, all launching globally and able to difficult Samsung’s digicam prowess in sure methods.
Samsung nonetheless leads the best way in a few key methods
Apart from the digicam system, there’s one large space the place Samsung continues to prepared the ground: advertising and marketing. The opposite is selecting to take completely different paths, and the brand new Privateness Show on the Galaxy S26 Extremely reveals the corporate is rethinking what it means to be an Extremely cellphone.
But, as nice because the Galaxy S26 Extremely is — and it’s certainly one of Samsung’s most refined telephones ever comprised of my testing — there’s no denying that it’s not the digicam champion it as soon as was. That’s to not say it’s dangerous — it’s excellent in a whole lot of circumstances — however the important thing competitors has redefined what it means to be an Extremely flagship smartphone.
Personally, I hope Samsung revamps the Galaxy S27 Extremely digicam system and provides a pictures equipment. It’s the proper sort of accent that may add to its backside line and firmly aligns with the corporate’s historical past of digicam improvements, even with large, prolonged cameras. Keep in mind the Galaxy S4 Zoom?
A brand new revamped Galaxy S27 Extremely would additionally reaffirm Samsung’s place atop one of the best telephones listing, though given the corporate’s international attain, it’s going to be some time earlier than anybody can actually displace it completely.
