Samsung is supposed to unveil its next-generation flagships, the Galaxy S26 series, in January 2026 during its first Galaxy Unpacked event of the year. Since leaks have already started signaling what could be expected from the upcoming devices, the dummy unit certainly revealed why the S26 Ultra requires a base or island under its camera rings.
It’s been a while now since the entire Galaxy audience has been hearing various leaks and rumors regarding the upcoming premium trio, the Galaxy S26 series.
At the same time, a recent report has offered the first-ever glimpse of the next-gen Galaxy S26 devices; firstly, the dummy units, showcasing the camera module and the back panel, and next up are the official-looking renders that highlight the thinner design. Meanwhile, the dummy unit of the Galaxy S26 Ultra sheds light on its unique camera island, and here’s a probable reason why it’s required, anyway.
According to the details shared by the tipster, UniverseIce, on X, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has a base (or an island) underneath its camera rings. As it’s already clear that the Galaxy S25 Ultra doesn’t come with a camera island, while possessing an overall thickness of 8.2 mm and a protrusion height of 2.4 mm. On the comparison side, Samsung seems to be decreasing the thickness of the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra, which is 7.9 mm thick, and this results in increasing the camera protrusion by 0.3 mm, and now, the total protrusion height comes to 2.7 mm.
At the same time, the S26 Ultra further sports an upgraded aperture of F1.4 within its main camera, which makes it about 1 mm thicker, and thus this gives a total 3.7 mm camera protrusion height.
Therefore, a dedicated camera module sneaking out at a 3.7 mm height will not go practically well with the Ultra’s look and design, and so the camera setup of the Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly needed a base (an island). This will help in maintaining thickness and overall design.
