Galaxy S26 Ultra Case Leak Sparks Talk of iPhone-Like Camera

According to reports from Tom’s Guide and GSMArena, leaked case renders offer a glimpse of how the Galaxy S26 Ultra would look.

What’s immediately noticeable is the camera island - the raised rectangular section that groups all the camera lenses together. This is a simple yet meaningful shift from Samsung’s traditional floating lens design.

Now, this is not some radical change as far as smartphones are concerned. It’s just that a lot of people think the design looks, well, Apple-ish.

Let’s look at the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's design, which people are talking about.

Let’s get one thing clear - camera islands have existed before the iPhone 11 Pro made them popular. In fact, phones like the Huawei P20 Pro have used them earlier.

Still, it was Apple that popularized the look, so that when a phone features a grouped camera lens, they immediately get tagged as “iPhone-like” - which is not a bad thing.

So, when “they” talk about the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra looking like an iPhone (especially its camera features), it only means the phone gives off a super premium Apple vibe.

Surely, as soon as the Galaxy S26 Ultra case leak made the rounds on the internet, Redditors shared their opinions on the matter.

Here are some of the interesting things people are saying…

• “I hate it. Now it looks like every other phone.” - u/cesam1ne

• “Doesn't every phone already look like every other phone? They're all like 95% the same as each other.” - u/biznatch11

• “The design is getting closer and closer to the iPhone’s design… soon they’ll drop the S Pen.” - u/Ohmadays77

• “They change the design, you guys whine. They don’t change it, you guys whine. Make up your mind.” - u/PinkPaladin6_6

As usual, the community is split on its opinions. Some are disappointed that Samsung seems to be adopting Apple’s aesthetics, while there are also those who see this shift to a clean design as inevitable, and even ideal.

There’s also this ongoing trend that most of today’s smartphones look alike - and again, there’s nothing wrong with that, right? Well, of course, there will always be those who want that certain uniqueness in their phones - which is also a legitimate concern.

One thing’s for sure… all this talk about the S26 Ultra’s camera design has made the excitement over the phone's release even more intense.

Right now, it’s still too early to tell whether the online leaks are true. But here’s what we have so far regarding early rumors on the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s specs:

• The use of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip

• A brighter AMOLED display

• Quad-camera setup with 200 MP main sensor

In a nutshell, we can say that the design update focused on hardware improvements with a major internal upgrade (the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip is making waves of its own).

Ah, if the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leaks are true, it means that the brand is leaning further into a premium, minimalist design (sure, call it Apple-esque if you like).

This can actually be a strategic move, especially now that smartphone users are starting to compare Android phones with iPhones - in performance and aesthetics alike.

With iPhone holding the crown for the most popular phone in the world, Samsung fans are in for a treat with Samsung’s latest offering - and that’s a good thing.

Let us all thank the Galaxy S26 Ultra case leak, as it gives us something to look forward to.

Now we can imagine that Samsung’s next Ultra series will have a sleeker, more functional look - with the camera island in the spotlight.

It’s definitely not an iPhone clone, mind you, as it keeps Samsung’s vertical camera design. The brand simply refined its own design for the better, which is a win-win for every smartphone user.

And when this much-awaited phone launches in early 2026, you might want to prepare for the big thing by finding a case that matches its elegance and design (without hiding it).

If finding the perfect case for the perfect phone has become your immediate goal, check out Thinborne’s thin phone case options - it won’t add bulk to your phone’s slim design while offering everyday protection.