Phone photography has come a long way from the tiny low-resolution images of twenty years ago, with many professional photographers and videographers now seeing advantages in the convenience a camera phone can offer. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra advances phone photography to another new level with its cutting-edge hardware along with AI processing that makes technical aspects easier so you can concentrate on getting the perfect shot.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s wider apertures capture more light, making it easier to create stunning photos at night, while pro file formats and AI-powered editing let you perfect your creative vision directly on the phone. Here are some top tips to get the most out of its advanced features.
TL;DR
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra combines advanced camera hardware and Galaxy AI1 tools to make high-quality phone photography easier and more creative.
- Its versatile lens system covers everything from landscapes and portraits to wildlife and extreme zoom photography.
- Features like Scene Detection, Nightography2 and Pro mode help users capture better photos in any lighting condition with automatic or manual controls.
- Creative tools including Expert RAW, APV support and Photo Assist3 allow for professional-style shooting and AI-powered editing directly on the phone.
01. Get to know your lenses
The Galaxy S26 Ultra feels like carrying an entire kit bag in your pocket, with a lens for every situation. Great photography requires a working knowledge of the tools at your disposal, so take some time to familiarise yourself with the strengths of each one.
What are different lenses on the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The 200MP wide F1.4 camera will be your default. Its large 1/1.3in sensor captures the most detail, and the wide aperture makes it the best option for low light. Change the default 12MP resolution to 200MP at the top right of the display when you want a large enough image to allow extreme cropping, or go to Camera Assistant > Advanced Resolution Options to turn on 24MP resolution to get the best balance for everyday photography.
Switch to the 50MP ultra wide F1.9 (the ‘.6’ icon) for more expansive landscapes, architecture or large group shots. It’s great for capturing dramatic angles. To get closer to your subject, the 10MP f2.4 with 3x optical zoom is ideal for portraits and street photography at medium distances, achieving a pleasing compression and subject isolation.
Finally, the 50MP F2.9 5x has you covered for wildlife, sports and for picking out details in landscapes. You can even zoom in digitally at up to 100x and still get a clear result thanks to the phone’s clever AI processing.
Tip: the optical zooms produce the most natural-looking images, so keep those 3x and 5x zoom points in mind. You can tap ‘3’ or ‘5’ directly instead of pinching to zoom.
Bonus tip: if you’re getting started, use Auto Lens Switching to let the phone decide which lens to use in each situation. When you’re ready to take more control, you can turn it off in Camera Assistant. Turning on 24MP resolution gives you easy access to all lenses.
02. Use scene detection so you can concentrate on composition
Galaxy AI’s1 Scene Detection means you don’t need to worry about changing settings. The phone will analyse each scene and automatically adjust exposure and contrast, letting you concentrate on getting the shot.
This is ideal for beginners, helping you take great pictures faster, whether they’re portraits, food, landscapes or night scenes. Giving your images an instant Instagram-ready boost can help your confidence as a new photographer.
Toggle the feature on by going to Settings > Photo Enhancer. You can always turn it off when you become more confident using manual settings and editing photos yourself.
Tip: for an extra helping hand, toggle on ‘Shot suggestions’ and ‘Grid lines and level’ under ‘Composition’. This can help you frame your shot if you want to use the rule of thirds, for example.
03. Take advantage of Night Mode for stunning shots after dark
The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Nightography2 capabilities let you capture sharp, vibrant photos without a tripod.
Scene Detection will automatically make use of the phone’s advanced image signal processor (ISP) to reduce image noise and camera shake while enhancing details in low-light scenes, from dimly lit restaurants and street scenes to concerts. You can also toggle on Night Mode by tapping the moon icon.
The new 24MP resolution option also helps with low light as it combines multiple exposures to preserve highlights and shadows in high-contrast scenes.
Tip: if you have problems with unwanted motion blur in your night shots, try setting a minimum shutter speed of at least 1/120s in the Camera Assistant app. And if you do want a longer exposure, try using the phone’s S Pen as a remote shutter, or turn on ‘Quick tap shutter’.
04. Switch to Pro mode when you’re ready for more creative freedom
The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s automatic settings are brilliant for getting started, but when you’re ready to take technical aspects into your own hands, you can switch to Pro mode for full manual control over shutter speed, ISO and white balance.
This allows you to experiment with different moods and long exposures to achieve light trails or panning shots. To make Pro mode easily available, tap ‘More’ at the bottom right of the Camera app and drag ‘Pro Photo’ and ‘Pro Video’ to the bottom bar.
Tips: For a helping hand in Pro mode, turn on ‘Touch autofocus’ and ‘Focus peaking’ in the Camera Assistant to make it easier to keep your subject sharp.
05. Use Samsung’s Expert RAW app for even more creative possibilities
Samsung’s dedicated Expert RAW app unlocks the S26 Ultra’s ability to capture photos in RAW format, which provides more information and more leeway for editing. The app also provides more advanced tools like astrophotography and multiple exposure modes.
A new feature in Expert RAW Labs is the Virtual Reflector. This lets you experiment with directed lighting, helping you to learn the techniques used on professional portrait shoots to bounce light towards a model when the main light source is behind them. Try taking a backlit portrait and using the Virtual Reflector to lift the shadows on your subject’s face.
On the topic of pro formats, alongside RAW for still images, the Galaxy S26 Ultra supports Samsung’s new Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec for visually lossless video. The format supports log recording, which is ideal if you want to colour grade your footage afterwards.
Be aware that RAW and APV formats mean bigger file sizes. Fortunately, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is available with internal storage of up to 1TB, and you can use external storage if needed.
06. Edit your photos quickly and easily with Photo Assist
Galaxy AI’s Photo Assist3 lets you edit photos instantly on your phone, from removing backgrounds and distractions to generating creative composite images.
How do I use Galaxy AI Photo Assist?
The built-in editing tool is very easy and intuitive to use because you interact with it using natural language. Simply type in the edits you want to make.
Use the ‘Erase’ option to quickly select and remove unwanted objects cluttering your composition (simplicity is often best in photography).‘Move’ lets you reposition elements in the composition, while ‘Create’ lets you make more radical changes or add other images.
Tip: Don’t stop at a single edit. Tap ‘Keep editing’ to make more adjustments without losing what you’ve already done.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is a new evolution in phone photography, providing cutting-edge hardware and intelligent creative assistance on a slim, pocketable device. If you’re ready to level up your phone photography, visit the Samsung website to find out more.
1 Samsung account login is required for certain AI features. Galaxy AI features are provided for free. Future releases may include additional advanced features that are offered as part of a paid subscription plan. Different terms may apply for AI features provided by third parties. 2 Results may vary depending on light condition, subject and/or shooting conditions. 3 Requires network connection and Samsung account login. A visible watermark is overlaid on the saved image to indicate it was generated by Galaxy AI. Accuracy of output not guaranteed.
