Samsung’s next flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, could have a major camera upgrade, according to a new leak. The device is rumored to feature a 50MP 3x telephoto camera, which would be a significant improvement over the 10MP 3x telephoto camera of the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

The leak comes from Ice Universe, a well-known leaker of Samsung devices, who posted on Weibo that the Galaxy S24 Ultra will have a 50MP telephoto camera. However, this is an early-stage leak and should be taken with a grain of salt, as Ice Universe has previously given contradictory information about the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s cameras.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra, which was launched in early 2023, has one of the best smartphone cameras of recent times, with a 108MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and two 10MP telephoto cameras with 3x and 10x optical zoom. However, compared to some of its competitors, such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro and the OnePlus 11, which have higher-resolution telephoto cameras with similar or better zoom capabilities, the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s telephoto cameras seem underwhelming.

A 50MP telephoto camera on the Galaxy S24 Ultra would not only increase the resolution and detail of zoomed-in photos, but also enable better portrait mode shots, which rely on the telephoto camera to create a depth effect. A telephoto camera is arguably more important than an ultrawide camera for many users, as it allows them to capture distant subjects and scenes.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is expected to launch sometime in the first quarter of 2024, along with the Galaxy S24 and the Galaxy S24 Plus. The device is likely to have other upgrades as well, such as a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a larger battery with faster charging, and an under-display selfie camera. However, these are also based on leaks and rumors, so we will have to wait for Samsung’s official announcement to confirm them.

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