Has Samsung improved the Galaxy S26 selfie camera experience?

AI became an even more important component of mobile photography in 2024, when Qualcomm debuted the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip with an AI ISP (Image Signal Processor). Now, with the launch of the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung is expanding on that idea in a way that should make selfie photo enthusiasts happy.

Samsung's new Galaxy S26 series doesn't use an AI ISP exclusively for the rear cameras. Rather, Samsung has extended AI ISP processing to the selfie camera as well. Details remain somewhat limited, but Samsung says the S26 lineup's selfie shooter can now produce more natural skin tones and preserve finer facial details, even in mixed or challenging lighting conditions.

Even better, the AI ISP capability appears to apply to the selfie camera regardless of the chipset or Galaxy S26 model. Some regions do get the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip across every Galaxy S26 variant. However, most markets receive the Exynos 2600 chip in the base Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ models.

Fortunately, none of that changes the experience in the selfie area. Both the Snapdragon and the Exynos 2600 SoCs includes an AI ISP. And in turn, every Galaxy S26 variant features the same AI-drive selfie technology.

Not a lot else has changed regarding the selfie camer ahardware. Like last year's models, the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra all use the same front-facing shooter: a 12MP unit with an f/2.2 aperture and 1.12-micron pixels.

Despite reusing 2025's selfie camera, the Galaxy S26's upgraded, AI-enabled ISP should be capable of producing better selfies.