With Chinese brands aggressively pushing into massive sensor territory, the smartphone photography world is once again caught in the “bigger is better” narrative. Phones like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra are betting heavily on 1-inch LOFIC sensor technology to deliver exceptional dynamic range and low-light performance. In contrast, Samsung appears to be taking a different route with its upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Instead of adopting a bulky 1-inch sensor, along with the optical and design compromises that accompany it, rumors suggest Samsung will opt for a more conservative approach by reusing the 200MP ISOCELL HP2 sensor. The key upgrade? A new 24mm f/1.4 main lens, a significant improvement from the f/1.7 aperture on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, likely paired with a faster Snapdragon SoC and advanced image processing capabilities.
The LOFIC Threat: Why 1-Inch Sensors Impress
Before delving into Samsung’s counter-move, it’s crucial to understand the challenge it faces. Although I haven’t yet had a full retail Xiaomi 17 Ultra in hand, analysis of early samples highlights why LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) technology is garnering so much attention.
Unlike conventional sensors that clip highlights to white when overwhelmed, LOFIC sensors provide an additional charge storage path for each pixel. When a pixel saturates, excess charge is redirected instead of being lost. This enables:
- No blown highlights
- Extreme highlight color separation
- Massive dynamic range in a single exposure
In extreme scenes like flames or gas burners, LOFIC output preserves details that others miss: distinctive blue gas at the base, hard orange flame tips, and clean transitions with minimal clipping. This approach prioritizes data fidelity and physical light behavior.
However, even the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, which already utilizes this technology, shows visible lens flare in extreme highlight scenes. Soft glow bleed, internal reflections, and flare artifacts are present despite the advanced sensor. This raises a critical question: If this occurs on a smaller LOFIC sensor, what happens when scaling up to a full 1-inch module with larger, faster glass?
Samsung’s Philosophy: Atmosphere Over Raw Data
Samsung’s approach, clearly visible on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, is fundamentally different. Rather than chasing maximum raw data, the Korean firm focuses on control and mood, simply because the hardware cannot capture more. On Galaxy flagships:
- Highlights are intentionally softened
- Transitions roll gently into white
- Colors near strong light sources are smoothed
- Lens flare is aggressively suppressed
In practice, Auto 12MP and Expert RAW modes show consistently clean highlights. Strong light sources rarely destroy the frame, and optical artifacts are tightly controlled. The result feels intentional: highlights “roll off” instead of exploding. The image looks cohesive and cinematic, with less “broadcast” and more “movie scene.” But on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, “mood” alone won’t suffice.
This philosophy is shared by OPPO, vivo, and Apple, each with its unique tuning. However, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is currently one of the best smartphones for lens flare control. But that is no longer enough.
LOFIC’s Real Advantage and Limitation
LOFIC is not mere marketing hype; it offers a tangible advantage. By adding an extra charge storage path at the pixel level, LOFIC sensors capture massive dynamic range in a single exposure. This is “data-first” imaging, capturing as much physical light information as possible. But LOFIC does not solve everything.
As sensor size increases, optics become the limiting factor. A 1-inch LOFIC sensor requires larger glass elements, wider entrance pupils, and more complex optical paths. This leads to a familiar trade-off:
- More light and data
- Higher risk of flare, reflections, and internal scattering
LOFIC protects the sensor, not the lens. If unwanted light enters the optical system, no sensor technology can fully undo the physics.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra Camera Gamble
So how does Samsung compete with LOFIC without switching to a 1-inch sensor? By changing the lens. Leaks suggest the Galaxy S26 Ultra will retain the 200MP HP2 sensor but upgrade the main lens to f/1.4, a significant step up from the f/1.7 lens on the S25 Ultra.
In optical terms, this is not a small upgrade. An f/1.4 lens gathers roughly 45–50% more light than an f/1.7 lens, allowing Samsung to lower ISO in low-light scenes, reducing noise naturally and depending less on aggressive computational cleanup. It won’t magically turn the HP2 into a 1-inch sensor, but it significantly narrows the real-world gap without introducing massive optics.
A wider aperture also means a shallower depth of field: more natural background separation, less reliance on portrait cutouts, and smoother subject-to-background transitions. This pushes Samsung closer to optical realism.
More incoming light enables faster shutter speeds, meaning better motion freezing and less blur indoors. This directly addresses one of Samsung’s long-standing weaknesses: motion capture in low light.
The Real Trade-Off: Flare vs. Atmosphere
This is where the real battle begins. Large 1-inch LOFIC systems pay a clear price in flare risk. Samsung, by contrast, has built its reputation on optical discipline. However, moving to f/1.4 will increase flare risk. Faster glass always brings this challenge, no matter the brand.
The difference will be how Samsung manages its last defense against superior specs. If the company pairs the f/1.4 lens with more advanced lens coatings, continued aggressive flare suppression, and refined highlight roll-off, it may achieve something rare:
- The brightness of larger sensors
- The cleanliness of smaller, well-controlled optics
The Galaxy S26 Ultra doesn’t need a 1-inch sensor to compete, or at least, that is what Samsung wants us to believe. If Samsung delivers a 24mm f/1.4 lens, the mature 200MP HP2 sensor, and refined HDR, it could strike a smart balance:
- Enough light to challenge LOFIC giants
- Enough control to preserve Samsung’s clean, cinematic look
Samsung may once again bet on the better system, not the biggest sensor. Real-world Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Xiaomi 17 Ultra tests will tell the full story.
The Future: It’s Not Just About Size
LOFIC or similar technology with bigger sensors could certainly be the future for Samsung as well, but its plan appears delayed. Realistic solutions are not about sensor size alone. The path forward relies on smarter engineering, not just bigger hardware:
- Advanced nano-structure coatings to suppress flare at the optical level
- Hybrid aperture systems that adjust without collapsing the sensor advantage
- Smarter per-pixel exposure paired with moderate sensor sizes
- Faster lenses on smaller sensors, reducing the need for extreme glass
In this context, the Galaxy S26 Ultra might be a great balance or a massive failure. LOFIC is about capturing everything. Samsung is about shaping what matters.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra may not win the spec race, but it may once again prove that the best camera isn’t the one that sees the most, but the one that sees right. Or it will fail completely and teach Samsung a painful lesson. Time will tell.
