The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra might offer one of the most advanced video zoom systems on the market. In a clip shared by insider Ice Universe, the device captures 4K 60fps HDR video handheld, showing an exceptionally smooth zoom from 1x to 2.9x. Ice Universe claims that no other smartphone, including the iPhone, can match this slow, stable, and precise zoom performance.
The key difference lies in how Samsung controls zoom speed. On many phones, zooming speeds up or down based on finger movement—the slightest shift changes the pace, often resulting in uneven transitions. With the Galaxy S26 Ultra, users hold their finger still, and the phone zooms at a constant rate. This makes the movement feel linear and more like a professional video camera.
That smoothness reportedly comes from Samsung's AI work in slow-motion video. It isn't just digital magnification; it's about managing motion trajectories, frame-rate changes, and real-time transition consistency between frames. The result is a predictable, controlled zoom that looks visually cohesive rather than abrupt.
The only notable limitation so far is the switch to the 3x telephoto lens. Going from 1x to 5x, the camera change slightly breaks the feeling of continuity. If Samsung redesigns the camera system for the Galaxy S27 Ultra and removes the separate 3x module, it could potentially achieve even smoother zoom across the full 1x to 5x range.
For casual users, this might just look like a nicer, smoother zoom. But for mobile videographers, it's a big deal—it makes smartphone shooting feel more professional. Smooth, controlled zoom enables cinematic footage without a tripod, extra gear, or heavy post-processing.