Samsung's Camera Assistant Gives Galaxy S26 Ultra Users Serious Professional Control

Samsung is developing two new Camera Assistant features that will likely debut alongside the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Codes found in One UI 8.5 reveal video softening options as well as adjustable autofocus speed and sensitivity controls.

Both of these features are not active on the Galaxy S25 device at the moment, indicating that Samsung is saving it for next year's flagship. This addition shows Samsung's efforts to make the S26 Ultra a serious tool for camera enthusiasts and content creators.

Samsung may not change the camera hardware on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but the software side seems to be different. New codes found in the Camera Assistant Good Lock module for One UI 8.5 reveal two features that could give photography enthusiasts more control.

First is video softening. Samsung already offers picture softening in Camera Assistant, which smoothes out details that are too sharp to produce a more natural photo. Now, the company seems to be bringing a similar treatment to video.

The code displays toggle options off, medium, and high, just like the ones for still photos. This should be good news for anyone who feels Samsung's video processing is too aggressive in terms of sharpening.

The second feature may be more interesting for detail enthusiasts. Samsung is developing speed and sensitivity controls for autofocus. This feature will allow users to set how quickly the camera shifts focus between subjects and how quickly the transition occurs. This is the type of granular control that is usually found on specialized cinema cameras, not smartphones.

This Feature is Not Yet Available in One UI 8.5 Beta on Galaxy S25

Both of these features are currently not active in One UI 8.5 beta 2 running on the Galaxy S25 device. This strongly suggests that Samsung is saving it for the Galaxy S26 line, most likely for the Ultra model.

This addition joins a list of camera improvements rumored for the S26 Ultra, including reduced lens flare, support for professional lens controls, and APV codecs. Samsung seems to be positioning the next Ultra as a legitimate tool for creators and professionals, not just a champion of paper specifications.

Of course, APK teardown is no guarantee. Features are often canceled. However, if Samsung continues, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could offer the most comprehensive camera controls we've ever seen on a Galaxy device.