The Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely is likely one of the finest telephones you should buy in 2026, and when you already personal one, I’ve some optimistic information for you: Your cellphone can take higher images than it does proper now.
Samsung added a bigger aperture (on two sensors) and upgraded its digital camera processing to fare higher in opposition to Apple’s iPhone 17 Professional this yr. Nonetheless, if you have not performed round with the settings, you are not taking advantage of Samsung’s new upgrades.
The Galaxy S26 Extremely has a flexible digital camera system, however the default settings may not work for everybody. They did not for me. So I took a deep dive into the buried menus and located methods to enhance the shutter pace, scale back compression and set off the 24-megapixel processing pipeline, amongst different issues. In case you aren’t happy with the picture high quality in your Samsung cellphone proper now, I like to recommend having a look at these choices within the Samsung Digicam Assistant.
Find the Digicam Assistant settings
Change these Digicam Assistant settings to get essentially the most out of your Galaxy S26 Extremely cameras.
The Digicam Assistant on Galaxy smartphones is a Good Lock module (basically like a plugin). It provides extra settings to the default Digicam app. For the longest time, Samsung did not preload these settings on its flagship telephones, however issues have modified with One UI 8.5 on the most recent Samsung flagships. Now you can discover the Digicam Assistant settings throughout the Digicam app.
To seek out these extra settings:
- Open the Digicam app.
- Faucet on the four-dot icon to get the menu.
- Faucet on Settings.
- Scroll to the Digicam Assistant. Faucet on it.
- It’s going to take you to the Samsung Galaxy Retailer with a pop-up for Digicam Assistant. Faucet on Set up.
Nonetheless, if it isn’t current right here, you will want to put in the Good Lock app by the Galaxy Retailer. Seek for Digicam Assistant and obtain the module from there.
As soon as situated, you are now able to take management over the processing and digital camera efficiency. A number of of those choices aren’t objectively higher than the opposite, however here is what I like to recommend altering and which setting may slot in what situation.
Use all these megapixels
Altering to 24-megapixel mode provides you with higher images in all situations.
The Galaxy S26 Extremely has a 200-megapixel major digital camera, but it surely defaults to 12-megapixel images out of the field. Whereas these images are small in measurement, you will not get the identical quantity of element and readability as higher-resolution modes. I do not suggest capturing every little thing in 200-megapixel mode, both – it’s gradual and can eat up your storage faster than the rest.
I’ve discovered the 24-megapixel mode to be the most effective of each worlds. It may well take fast snaps and get sharp outcomes concurrently with out having a big file measurement.
The perfect half is that Samsung upgraded its processing to seize 24-megapixel decision images even in digital zoom.
24-megapixel picture in 9.2x zoom (213mm).
In consequence, you get 24-megapixel pictures on three digital camera sensors, together with these zoom ranges: 0.6x to 0.9x for ultrawide, 1x to 1.9x for the principle and 5x to 9.9x for the periscope telephoto digital camera.
The ten-megapixel 3x tele sensor misses out on this function resulting from its decrease decision and the principle digital camera defaults every little thing from 2x to 2.9x in 12 megapixels, regardless of utilizing the next decision mode.
The 24-megapixel vs 50-megapixel shot: The 50-megapixel mode picture (proper) is about 900 KBÂ bigger, but it surely would not provide you with objectively extra element or readability.
I counsel you alter the default decision to 24-megapixel mode as a result of it’s sufficient for nearly all situations. The one time I’ve seen a distinction was whereas capturing neon lights in every mode. The previous artificially brightens the entire body, whereas the 50-megapixel mode in 9.2x zoom exposes for the signboards, which leads to extra natural-looking images like the instance beneath.
The 24-megapixel vs. 50-megapixel pictures at 9.2x zoom: In each images, I tapped on the Star Wars signal to focus. The 50-megapixel mode processed it higher than the 24-megapixel mode.
For a lot of the different situations, 24-megapixel mode stays the candy spot and here is how one can make it the default decision in your Galaxy S26 Extremely images:
- Go to the Digicam Assistant.
- Scroll down to seek out the Photographs settings.
- Faucet on 24 MP decision
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You will see two settings: 24 MP in Photograph mode and Hold 24 MP decision. Activate each of them.
When you’re at it, these are the settings to alter below the Digicam Assistant settings if:
You need full management over lenses
Disabling Auto Lens Switching provides you with extra management over the cameras on Galaxy S26 Extremely.
You might want to disable Auto Lens Switching. By default, the Galaxy S26 Extremely digital camera system robotically switches between the 4 rear cameras based mostly on the lighting, the cellphone’s distance from the topic and zoom vary.
It is not the neatest resolution to depend on your cellphone’s smarts. For instance, if you take the cellphone near the topic for a macro shot, it takes a couple of seconds to land on a usable lens based mostly in your distance. On this time, the second might be misplaced.
You may as an alternative resolve on the lens you wish to use, get near the topic and take the picture, with none automated lens switching. All you’ll want to do is flip off the Auto Lens Switching toggle below the Lens and Zoom possibility.
You want extra correct pores and skin tones
Photograph Softening turned off (left) vs. Photograph Softening set to excessive (proper).
Samsung telephones can oversharpen pores and skin tones, particularly below synthetic lighting situations. In case you’re not a fan of the processed look, you may go for softer pores and skin tones by going to the Photograph Softening possibility below the Photographs menu and setting it to Medium or Excessive.
Within the above two pictures, you may discover how the left picture (with Photograph Softening turned off) has a stronger black level and shadows. Compared, the shot on the proper (with Photograph Softening turned to Excessive) has a extra pure really feel to it. My pores and skin and beard nonetheless have comparable particulars in each pictures, however I choose the softer, much less processed picture on the proper.
What else?
Adaptive Pixel and Upscale Digital Zoom turned off (left) vs. each settings turned on (proper). Discover the issues on the watch — the left one has sparkles, which are not seen on the left picture.
By default, Samsung retains Distortion Correction turned on and Adaptive Pixel and Upscale Digital Zoom turned off. However you need to experiment with these settings in response to your images. Turning them on may lead to a better-looking shot. For instance, when capturing my watch, the default settings could not get the sparkles on the earthphase complication (on the left with Snoopy). Nonetheless, as soon as I turned on Adaptive Pixel and Upscale Digital Zoom, it was capable of give me extra particulars on the dial.
Alternatively, Distortion Correction fixes the bending strains in a photograph, which might be brought on by lens distortion. So turning it on ends in better-looking images, particularly those who contain buildings.
Aside from these two settings, I used to suggest turning on Fast Faucet Shutter till final yr. Nonetheless, I have not seen a noticeable distinction in images with this setting turned on or off on my Galaxy S26 Extremely. Samsung has improved the shutter pace on its flagship this yr, however shifting topics can nonetheless get a halo impact in default settings. You may barely enhance on this by enabling the Prioritize Focus over Pace toggle (situated below Focus).
Tinkering round with these settings has helped me take advantage of the digital camera in my pocket. I hope they’re going to enhance your photo-taking expertise on the Galaxy S26 Extremely, too. I additionally counsel exploring the filters current within the viewfinder and making an attempt to create your personal, in response to your style. It’s enjoyable!
Watch this: Which Cellphone Takes Higher Photographs? iPhone 17 Professional Max vs. Galaxy S26 Extremely
