The Samsung Galaxy S26 (2026) supports Expert RAW in DNG format and has no mechanical shutter — the image counter stored in each DNG file records total electronic captures. Drop an Expert RAW DNG to read it instantly.
Check Image Counter →The Galaxy S26 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 and features a triple-camera system: a 50 MP ISOCELL GNK2 main sensor (f/1.8, OIS, 1/1.57-inch), a 12 MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 120°, autofocus), and a 10 MP 3× telephoto (f/2.4, OIS). The 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display supports 1–120 Hz LTPO refresh with a peak brightness of 2600 nits. Second-generation Galaxy AI features include improved scene recognition, Nightography processing enhancements, and real-time translation.
Like all modern Samsung Galaxy smartphones, the S26 uses CMOS electronic readout only. There is no mechanical focal-plane shutter. Every image — in any mode — increments the persistent electronic image counter embedded in Expert RAW DNG files.
| Model | Release | Main Sensor | Shutter Type | RAW Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S26 | 2026 | 50 MP ISOCELL GNK2 (f/1.8) | Electronic only | Expert RAW (DNG) |
| Galaxy S25 | 2025 | 50 MP ISOCELL GNK (f/1.8) | Electronic only | Expert RAW (DNG) |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 2026 | 200 MP ISOCELL HP9X (f/1.7) | Electronic only | Expert RAW (DNG) |
| Google Pixel 10 | 2025 | 50 MP Samsung GNK2 (f/1.68) | Electronic only | Google Camera (DNG) |
.dng extension. Samsung DeX is another option.The image counter indicates intensity of use but carries no mechanical wear significance. Focus on these factors when evaluating a used S26:
| What to Check | How |
|---|---|
| Battery health | Settings → Battery and device care → Battery. Below 80% warrants replacement consideration; Samsung reports charge cycle count and health % |
| Display condition | Inspect the 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED for burn-in (status bar, navigation areas) and any dead pixels; test at maximum brightness |
| Camera lenses | Test all three cameras (50 MP main, 12 MP ultrawide, 10 MP 3× telephoto) for chips, fogging, or scratches; try each at different distances |
| Frame and back glass | Inspect the Armor Aluminum frame and Corning Gorilla Glass back for cracks, deep scratches, or signs of prior repair |
| Image counter | High count (>50,000) indicates intensive use — useful context, not a hardware failure indicator |
Expert RAW is a separate Galaxy Store download. It merges the raw sensor output with Samsung’s multi-frame processing pipeline, offering histogram display, multi-frame composite RAW for low-light shots, and per-lens manual controls. The resulting DNG is fully compatible with Lightroom, Capture One, darktable, and any DNG-capable editor.
The image counter is stored in the DNG EXIF metadata under the ImageNumber field within Samsung’s MakerNote IFD. This counter increments with every capture across all camera modes and lens positions and cannot be reset by a factory reset or software update.
Both the standard S26 and the S26 Ultra use the same Expert RAW DNG counter format. The only hardware difference relevant to shutter count is that the S26 Ultra carries a 200 MP main sensor (enabling full-resolution RAW output only via Expert RAW) and an integrated S Pen, neither of which affects the counter mechanism.
No. All Galaxy S smartphones use CMOS electronic readout. There is no focal-plane shutter mechanism and no rated mechanical lifespan.
Open the Galaxy Store app, search for Expert RAW, and install it. It is free and exclusive to Samsung Galaxy devices. After installation it appears as a standalone app and can also be accessed from the Camera app’s more modes menu.
No. The image counter is stored in persistent hardware memory and cannot be reset by a factory reset, software update, or any user action.
The S26+ offers a larger 6.7-inch QHD+ display (vs 6.2-inch FHD+ on the base S26), a slightly wider aperture main sensor (f/1.7 vs f/1.8), and a larger 4900 mAh battery. Both use the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 processor, support Expert RAW, and use an identical image counter format.
Yes. The S26 offers an excellent computational photography stack with the GNK2 main sensor, Galaxy AI features, and 3× optical zoom. Battery health is the primary concern when buying used — check it via Settings before agreeing on a price.