A new rumor suggests the Galaxy S26 Ultra may ditch Samsung’s ISOCELL sensor for a nearly 1-inch Sony-made camera. By now, Samsung’s camera strategy for its Ultra flagships has started to feel a bit… stuck. The Galaxy S23 Ultra debuted the company’s custom-built 200MP ISOCELL HP2 sensor. The S24 Ultra reused it. Same story with the S25 Ultra. But that could finally change.
According to a new leak posted by Weibo user FocalDigital, Samsung is seriously considering swapping out its homegrown ISOCELL sensor for something arguably more ambitious: a Sony-developed 200MP sensor, nearly 1 inch in size. That would make it one of the largest image sensors in any smartphone to date—bigger even than Samsung’s current 1/1.3-inch HP2 and the rumored HP9.
A Quiet Camera Arms Race
At a glance, the megapixel count doesn’t change. It’s still 200MP. But megapixels don’t tell the whole story. The real gain here lies in sensor size. A larger sensor typically means more light, better detail, and stronger low-light performance—critical factors as smartphone photography edges closer to professional-grade tools. Sony’s rumored sensor, measuring around 1/1.1 inches, would be a major jump. It’s roughly 20% larger than Samsung’s HP2.
Samsung hasn’t confirmed anything, of course. This is still early chatter. But FocalDigital’s claim isn’t out of nowhere. Back in March, other sources hinted Sony was developing a 200MP sensor tailored for Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 (now reportedly called Snapdragon 8 Elite 2) devices launching in 2025.
A Tactical Shift?
If Samsung really does go with a Sony sensor, it marks a subtle but significant pivot. It suggests even the company behind the ISOCELL line might see diminishing returns in sticking with its own hardware—at least for now. Rival phone makers like Xiaomi and Vivo have leaned on Sony’s larger sensors for years.
And with Apple reportedly pushing camera upgrades hard for the iPhone 17 Pro, Samsung may be feeling the pressure to pull ahead, not just keep pace. Whether the Galaxy S26 Ultra will break from tradition remains to be seen. But for now, the idea of Samsung outsourcing camera hardware—especially to longtime sensor rival Sony—might be the most interesting development in smartphone photography this year.
