There was a time when people really kicked against how camera-oriented smartphone launches and reviews were. Things have been dialed back a bit since then, especially as even the worst flagship cameras are still good, but it doesn’t mean that consumers don’t care about camera upgrades.
Unfortunately, it seems like Samsung might think that we don’t care. If fresh rumors are to be believed, the primary camera in the Galaxy S25 and S25+ (and even their S26 counterparts) are already known, and you’ll be disappointed to know that they are recycled units.
The Galaxy S25 And S25+ Could Have The Same Main Camera Samsung Has Been Using Since 2022
The first quarter of next year will bring the next iteration of arguably the most iconic Android flagship series, the Samsung Galaxy S family. In 2025, we’re expecting the S25 phones and the leaks have started trickling in little by little — the normal way things go when a phone’s release draws closer. Unfortunately, a recent rumor from a reliable source suggests something unsavory about the cameras on the non-Ultra S25 models.
Ice Universe on X, quoting a post comparing the Apple iPhone 16 and Samsung Galaxy S24 cameras, mentioned how Samsung is going to stick to using the same primary sensor that is in the Galaxy S24 in the Galaxy S25. Normally, that wouldn’t be too much of a problem, but he even added that Samsung is also expecting to stretch that camera unit to the S26.
If you’re not understanding why that’s such a big deal, it’s because the main camera unit in the Galaxy S24 and S24+ is the exact same one in their S22 counterparts. That means, the S22, S23, S24, S25, and even the S26, will all share the same primary camera tech. The software improves, sure, but there’s really no excuse for a company like Samsung to recycle the same camera technology over five generations of flagship smartphones.
Some Years Are Incremental Upgrades, But Too Many Of Those And OEMs Look Complacent
Look, I get it. It’s not every year that a new flagship will be drastically different from its predecessor. Sometimes they merely bring incremental upgrades, like a faster chip, a brighter screen, or slightly slimmer dimensions. It’s allowed, and as Android enthusiasts, we know that. However, the problem is that when these kinds of incremental upgrades happen year after year, the manufacturers start to seem too comfortable.
In the case of the cameras in the S25, there’s no upgrade at all, which is pretty bad considering there hasn’t been a substantial update there since 2022. We know the charging speeds and batteries of the S25 series aren’t going to change either. The designs for the S25 and S25+ are also stagnant. In fact, the only thing that’s confirmed for a drastic change is the chipset. That’s not a good look, Samsung.
I’m currently on my second Samsung smartphone and I have to say, if things are this “similar” by the time I’m ready to upgrade, I’ll likely be considering other options a lot stronger than before.
