What the teardown revealed
In a video on the JerryRigEverything channel, Zack Nelson took apart the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra in detail and revealed a new periscope module with 5x optical zoom. The teardown confirms that the series uses an updated sensor architecture — ALoP (All Lenses on Prism), which Samsung Imaging announced in 2024.
"The teardown shows that the lens block is positioned above the prism — this gives flexibility in design and makes the module more compact."
— Zack Nelson, JerryRigEverything
Technical details you should know
According to the manufacturer, the ALoP architecture allows lenses to be placed directly above the prism instead of the traditional placement between the sensor and the prism. This makes the periscope module roughly 22% shorter compared to previous solutions.
The S26 Ultra's camera has an aperture of f/2.9, whereas the Galaxy S25 Ultra used f/3.4 — the difference provides about 37% more light, which can potentially improve shooting in low-light conditions.
Context: what this means for users
A more compact periscope means manufacturers can more easily combine powerful optical zoom with a thin phone body. More light means better detail at dusk and for night photography. For journalists, volunteers, and civic activists this is not just a "gimmick": it’s a tool for reliable photo and video documentation of events in challenging conditions.
In addition to the S26 Ultra, Samsung also introduced the Galaxy S26 and S26+, and the Galaxy Buds 4 are already available in Ukraine — it’s important to monitor the local availability of service centers and firmware so users in our country can get the full functionality.
What experts are saying
The tech community notes that ALoP is a logical step toward miniaturizing optical modules without sacrificing quality. Analysts point out that such innovations accelerate the spread of professional capabilities into mass-market devices.
Conclusion
Zack Nelson’s teardown offers more than just a show: it confirms that Samsung is betting on compactness and light sensitivity for periscopes. For Ukraine, this means practical benefits — better mobile shooting in field conditions and wider access to technologies that were previously the preserve of large optical systems. Now it’s up to retailers, service centers, and local users to see how quickly they can provide access to these new capabilities.
