Even though the Galaxy S25 Ultra hasn’t arrived in all markets so far, we already got an update concerning Samsung functionality on the Galaxy S26 Ultra prototype, possibly with an under-display front camera. This time around, the early prototypes suggest there’s no punch-hole cut-out at the front, implying the former could be true.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Prototype Shows Signs Of Under-Display Front Cameras
According to tipster Kro on X (previously Twitter), a Galaxy S26 Ultra prototype exists without a camera punch-hole at the front. Turns out, Samsung could be working on an under-display camera (UDC) for the upcoming phablet much like its ongoing flagship foldable Galaxy Z Fold series.
Having an under-display front camera might offer an unobstructed view of the screen and a much larger screen real estate, but it still suffers from image quality issues. We have seen countless implementations of under-display front cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold series. However, the tech has come a long way over the years, possibly pitting UDC cam with conventional front camera setups as showcased by Galaxy Z Fold6.
Samsung has been a slow adopter of technologies which hints having a UDC on the Galaxy S26 Ultra is far from reality. Note that we are talking about early prototypes giving a much broader scope of changes that will be made until the unit reaches production. It is common for tech giants to change the designs and elements over time to suit specific needs.
I would still suggest having an under-display front camera on Galaxy S26 Ultra is still a dream given the subpar quality it possesses. It is worth giving away some screen real estate (for the conventional front camera) rather than losing the quality in the case of UDC.
This is possibly one of the reasons why Apple has been hesitant to integrate a UDC into its iPhone lineup even though it has been in the works for ages. The Cupertino-based giant is trying to squeeze the size of its notch. Dynamic Island is an example of how Apple tried using the space for informative purposes, although there were mixed responses.
Coming back to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, we are still a year away from its launch in January next year. We are still waiting for the Galaxy S25 Ultra to drop in various markets. Let’s take the update on Galaxy S26 Ultra with a pinch of salt.