- New camera upgrades are tipped for the Galaxy S26 series
- We’ve also heard about a camera boost for the OnePlus 16
- The Samsung phones will not be launched until next week
Both the Samsung Galaxy S26 and the OnePlus 16 should make their bows sometime this year, but if the latest rumors from those in the know are to be believed, it’s the latter handset that may have the edge when it comes to the rear camera setup.
For starters, the Galaxy S26, which we know is coming on Wednesday, February 25. According to veteran tipster Ice Universe, the three phones in the series will come with improved noise reduction for photos and videos, and a high-resolution 24MP recording mode that brings “excellent clarity”.
Whether we’ll get much more in terms of raw specs remains to be seen, though: Many of the camera upgrades are expected to be on the software side, with megapixel ratings similar to what we saw with the Galaxy S25 series across the board.
Still, any upgrade would be welcome, and the phones should be faster than ever. Samsung has set the date and time for its Galaxy Unpacked reveal show, and of course we’ll be covering all the announcements live for you.
OnePlus and Oppo cameras
Moving on to the OnePlus 16, this is a flagship phone that isn’t coming quite as fast. Given that the OnePlus 15 didn’t break coverage outside of China until November, we can expect its successor to appear around a similar time in 2026.
It looks like it’ll be worth the wait, though: according to tipster Gm (via Android Headlines ), the handset will borrow the 200MP periscope telephoto lens currently in use in the Oppo Find X9 Pro (Oppo and OnePlus are all part of the same company).
This is good news – as our Oppo Find X9 Pro review will tell you, this is an excellent smartphone with an excellent rear camera system, and if the OnePlus 16 can match it, it will be able to hold its own against the rest of the best handsets launching over the next 12 months.
First, we have to wait and see what Samsung has been working on with the Galaxy S26 series. After that, and no doubt also after a Pixel and an iPhone or two, we can weigh up what the OnePlus 16 has to offer.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can too follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, video unboxings, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
