Galaxy S26 Ultra could shrink its camera bump with new lens tech

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra camera lens might get thinner thanks to inkjet printing, making room for a smaller camera bump. The post Galaxy S26 Ultra could shrink its camera bump with new lens tech appeared first on Phandroid.

May 29, 2025 - 11:00

Galaxy S26 Ultra could shrink its camera bump with new lens tech

The Galaxy S26 Ultra camera lens could be in for a big change. Samsung’s “Ultra” models are famous for their massive camera bumps, like the 200MP beast on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. But for the next generation, Samsung may finally shrink things down.

According to Korean publication The Elec, Samsung plans to use inkjet printing to make the Galaxy S26 Ultra camera lens thinner than before. This new process comes from Samsung Electro-Mechanics, the division in charge of building lenses for Galaxy phones.

Right now, Samsung puts film layers inside camera lenses to cut down on lens flare and ghosting. Those extra layers make the whole lens module thicker. By switching to inkjet printing, Samsung can apply a matte ink directly onto the “rib” of the lens—the part that channels light to the sensors. Less material means less thickness, so the camera lens—and maybe the whole camera bump—could finally go on a diet.

It’s not a totally new idea, either. Samsung actually filed a patent for this tech back in 2018, but it never turned into a full patent. Now, with thinner phones trending, it looks like the timing is right.

So, what does a thinner camera lens mean for users? A smaller bump on the back of your phone, for one. Samsung could also use the extra room to squeeze in a bigger battery, but let’s be real—the main thing most people will notice is that the camera bump won’t stick out as much.

Of course, nothing’s official yet. We’ll have to wait for the Galaxy S26 announcement to see what really changes. But if these reports pan out, it’s looking like the Galaxy S26 Ultra camera lens is about to get a lot sleeker.

The post Galaxy S26 Ultra could shrink its camera bump with new lens tech appeared first on Phandroid.