[Video] Turning Your Travel Moments Into Lasting Memories ①: San Francisco With Galaxy S26 Ultra

Smartphone cameras play a central role in capturing everyday moments. With enhanced performance and intuitive AI features, Galaxy S26 Ultra elevates the mobile camera experience — making it easy to capture and edit with professional-quality results.

Samsung Newsroom experienced the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s camera firsthand after Galaxy Unpacked 2026 in San Francisco, showcasing the city’s diverse scenery and unique atmosphere.

Sharp Detail at Any Distance

Pier 39, one of San Francisco’s most iconic landmarks, offers sweeping ocean views. With Galaxy S26 Ultra, even Alcatraz Island across the bay — typically seen clearly only up close by boat — appears crisp and detailed.

▲ (From top to bottom) Photo taken with Galaxy S26 Ultra and a cropped zoom of Alcatraz Island from above

Galaxy S26 Ultra features a 200MP wide-angle camera and a 50MP telephoto camera with 10x optical quality zoom. The 200MP camera delivers exceptional detail, especially when images are enlarged. The wider F1.4 aperture captures more light than its predecessor, producing richer textures and finer detail.¹ Even when zooming in or cropping, details remain sharp.

The camera also excels at video recording. When filming the sea lions at Pier 39 in 8K, even distant landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge remain clear and detailed when zoomed in.

▲ Video recorded with Galaxy S26 Ultra

Stable Video in Motion

Galaxy S26 Ultra is the first Galaxy device to support the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec, a professional-grade format that preserves detail even after multiple edits.

When filming in crowded areas or on the move, Super Steady² keeps footage stable. The new horizontal lock option maintains a level frame in motion-heavy situations.

▲ Galaxy S26 Ultra records video while panning side to side.

To test the feature, Galaxy S26 Ultra was panned side to side at a nearby theme park. With the horizontal lock option on, the footage maintains a stable horizon. Compared with footage shot under the same conditions with the feature off, the difference is clear.

▲ Comparison of video recorded with Super Steady’s horizontal lock option on and off

With Galaxy S26 Ultra, users can record stable video without camera shake — from travel vlogs to activities like running or cycling.

Clear, Vivid Nights

As the sun sets, San Francisco’s streets take on a different atmosphere. With Galaxy S26 Ultra’s enhanced Nightography, the city’s iconic cable cars appear in motion at night.

▲ Galaxy S26 Ultra films the San Francisco’s night streets using Nightography.

A wider aperture and improved ProVisual Engine reduce noise in low light while preserving the mood of nighttime scenes. Moving cable cars and the night sky appear natural, reflecting the city’s after-dark atmosphere. Its nighttime charm — different from its daytime appeal — is rendered in vivid detail.

▲ Galaxy S26 Ultra films the San Francisco’s night streets using Nightography.

From the ocean and lively streets to the city at night, Galaxy S26 Ultra showcases San Francisco in stunning detail, creating vivid, lasting travel memories.

In part two of this series, Samsung Newsroom will explore the AI features of Galaxy S26 Ultra that extend the experience beyond capture to make everyday moments even more meaningful.

▲ Video of San Francisco shot with Galaxy S26 Ultra

[1] 47% more light on 200MP Wide camera and 37% on 50MP Telephoto (5x Optical Zoom) camera on Galaxy S26 Ultra. Brightness improvements shown are compared to Galaxy S25 Ultra

[2] Results may vary depending on editing method and/or shooting conditions