Samsung's Competitors Use Better Samsung Sensors Than Its Own Flagship

Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra continues to use the three-year-old Isocell HP2 sensor for its main camera, while competitors like Vivo and Xiaomi have access to Samsung's more advanced HP9 sensor. Samsung executives justify this by emphasizing system-level optimization over component upgrades, but critics note the company's own sensor division sells better hardware to rivals. The S26 Ultra features a wider f/1.4 aperture and improved ProVisual Engine, but action and low-light photography remain challenging. Samsung prioritizes thin design and consistent performance, but its vertical integration creates a contradiction where one division sells cutting-edge sensors while another defends using older ones.