Samsung appears ready to make a major design correction with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, finally addressing one of the most criticised visual elements of recent Galaxy flagships.
According to well-known leaker Ice Universe, Samsung has abandoned the cheap-looking “vinyl record” camera ring design that has drawn backlash since the Galaxy S24 and S25 Ultra generations.
Ice Universe claims to have seen part of the real Galaxy S26 Ultra design in person, and says the change is immediately noticeable.
Cleaner, More Premium Camera Design
The Galaxy S26 Ultra reportedly adopts a metal camera ring design closer to what Apple uses on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but with a noticeably slimmer metal ring surrounding each lens.
This narrower metal treatment gives the camera array a far more refined, minimal, and premium look, while avoiding the bulky, plasticky appearance that many users associated with the previous “vinyl record” styling.
According to Ice Universe, the overall finish looks extremely clean and minimalistic, and represents a clear visual upgrade over the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Why Samsung Is Changing Direction
Samsung’s camera ring design has been a surprisingly polarising topic in recent years. While the brand aimed for a bold, distinctive look, feedback from fans and reviewers consistently highlighted concerns that the raised plastic-style rings felt cheap compared to the rest of the phone’s premium materials.
With Apple leaning further into precision-machined metal camera accents, Samsung’s shift suggests it is once again prioritising industrial design refinement, especially as flagship prices continue to climb.
This redesign also aligns with Samsung’s broader push to elevate the Ultra series as a true luxury Android flagship, rather than just a spec-driven device.
Recently, I had the opportunity to see part of the real Galaxy S26 Ultra design in person. One thing is certain: it has finally abandoned the much-criticized, cheap-looking “vinyl record” camera ring design.
— Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) January 4, 2026
The new design looks more like the metal rings around the cameras on… pic.twitter.com/z7JMxZht7X
What This Means for the Galaxy S26 Ultra
If accurate, this design change suggests Samsung is:
- Responding directly to long-standing design criticism
- Moving closer to Apple-style premium finishing
- Refining the Ultra lineup ahead of a major generational refresh
- Reinforcing the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s positioning as a top-tier flagship
With leaks around performance, cameras, and AI features already building, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is shaping up to be one of Samsung’s most design-focused updates in years.
