Samsung is reportedly trialling artificial intelligence software designed to remove lens flare from its Galaxy camera phones, a problem that persists on the Galaxy S26 Ultra despite earlier hardware changes. According to a recent leak, future Galaxy photos could appear considerably cleaner around bright light sources.
The claim originates from a tipster posting on X, who described the information as exclusive. The post suggests that Galaxy devices still exhibit some lens flare, but that Samsung is currently testing prototype software using AI processing to counter it. The tipster added that the early results appear very clean, with flare almost entirely removed. The post does not name a specific Galaxy model, nor does it indicate when the software might arrive.
Why lens flare is difficult to eliminate
Ahead of the Galaxy S26 Ultra launch, reports pointed to an improved lens coating intended to reduce flare. In August, further information suggested the Galaxy S27 Ultra would use matte ink printed onto its lenses for the same purpose.
Understanding why flare is so persistent requires a look inside a phone camera. A single camera typically stacks six to eight small lens elements. When bright light strikes them at an angle, it can bounce between those elements and off the edges holding them in place. That stray light appears as halos, streaks or a hazy glow in a photograph. Coatings, light-blocking film and matte ink all attempt to stop it within the hardware, before the light reaches the sensor.
Software works in the opposite direction, cleaning up the image after it has been captured. Google Research demonstrated this approach in 2021, training a neural network on pairs of images with and without flare so it could learn to recognise and remove the effect. A well-implemented AI fix should deliver cleaner night photos without erasing the lights a user intended to capture.
What it could mean for Galaxy owners
For those planning to buy the Galaxy S27 Ultra, the development is promising, as flare tends to appear in precisely the moments people value most, such as concerts, city streets at night and sunsets. For current owners, a software fix is not tied to new lenses, so older Galaxy flagship devices could potentially receive it at a later stage.
A software solution would not replace the hardware work Samsung has already undertaken, since software can only correct what the lenses allow through. The possibility remains that the Galaxy S27 Ultra could launch with both the matte ink treatment and the AI cleanup, alongside a toggle to retain flare when desired.
The tipster’s track record is not established, so the information should be treated as an early report at this stage.
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Image: phonearena.com
