{"id":530954,"date":"2026-03-18T14:32:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T14:32:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/530954\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T14:32:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T14:32:17","slug":"why-your-galaxy-s26-ultra-camera-might-fog-up-and-why-ip68-doesnt-guarantee-it-wont","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/530954\/","title":{"rendered":"Why your Galaxy S26 Ultra camera might fog up \u2014 and why IP68 doesn\u2019t guarantee it won\u2019t"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Samsung Galaxy S26 series<\/a> is now landing in lucky customers\u2019 hands, and while many are undoubtedly enjoying time with their new handsets, an unlucky few have already noticed their first problems. One disconcerting issue we\u2019ve encountered is that a few users<\/a> are reporting<\/a> that the Galaxy S26 Ultra\u2019s camera lenses can suffer from internal condensation. This admittedly rare issue is certainly not unheard of across virtually every phone model, but it\u2019s always worse when it happens to a brand-new flagship.<\/p>\n

But before we all get bent out of shape about Samsung\u2019s latest smartphone, the reports we\u2019ve seen (and not just about the S26 Ultra) often have one thing in common \u2014 the issue occurs right after exposure to temperature and humidity extremes. Examples we\u2019ve seen discussed include putting the phone near a car\u2019s AC vent, leaving it near a hot bath, or even taking their handset into a sauna!<\/p>\n

Have you experienced fogged up phone camera lenses?<\/p>\n

105 votes<\/p>\n

Yes<\/p>\n

15%<\/p>\n

Very, very rarely<\/p>\n

6%<\/p>\n

Ages ago on an older phone<\/p>\n

10%<\/p>\n

Never<\/p>\n

70%<\/p>\n

While you might think that flagship smartphones being IP68-rated<\/a> would shield them from such issues, that\u2019s not entirely true. An IP68 rating indicates the handset is resistant to dust and water ingress; it doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s completely immune to everything you can throw at it. Brands are quick to highlight the freshwater and depth limitations of their water resistance, for instance. Plus, seals and glue inevitably weaken and erode over time.<\/p>\n

\"Galaxy<\/p>\n

Even on a brand-new phone, an IP68 rating doesn\u2019t mean the inner body lives in a complete vacuum. While these handsets offer tight seals against dust particles and water, small gaps can still allow air and moisture to enter and leave over time, especially if the phone is exposed to pressure changes.<\/p>\n

Are some customers just unlucky or are design changes to blame?<\/p>\n

A closer look at the Galaxy S26 Ultra\u2019s construction<\/a> suggests the lenses pop off a little more easily than last year, quite possibly by choice to make them easier to repair. However, this may have changed the lens\u2019s point of ingress resistance, from the lens seal to somewhere behind it. I\u2019m speculating, but this could make the new model potentially more susceptible to fogging, though it also makes them easier to clean. In any case, take your phone into a sauna, and it\u2019s likely the interior will slowly become humid too.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the key point here is that smartphones are not manufactured in a completely dry environment either \u2014 some level of internal humidity is inevitable. When a phone\u2019s interior is exposed to sharp temperature changes, say, by quickly moving from warm to cold, the cooler metal or glass can cause the moisture in the warmer interior to condense. That\u2019s the same phenomenon that can cause condensation on the inside of your window on a cold night, and it\u2019s almost certainly what we\u2019re seeing in some of these reported Galaxy S26 issues involving heat and moisture.<\/p>\n

IP ratings do not guarantee for extreme environmental changes.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t to say that fogging up camera lenses is normal, acceptable, or expected on a brand-new phone. If you\u2019re a Galaxy S26 customer experiencing this issue after just a few days, you should certainly try to obtain a replacement under warranty. While condensation should clear up once internal and external temperatures equalize, repeated fogging may eventually leave marks and blemishes on your camera lens, potentially leading to poor image quality in the long term.<\/p>\n

That said, this article is really a PSA: lens condensation is not an unforeseen issue and may not be covered under warranty. Especially if you\u2019ve had the handset for months, as companies seldom cover damage that could have been caused by user misuse, even if it wasn\u2019t. Apple\u2019s water resistance page<\/a> recommends not \u201cexposing your iPhone to pressurized water or high velocity water, such as when showering\u201d or \u201cusing your iPhone in a sauna or steam room,\u201d for example. As we\u2019ve discussed, those are definitely the sort of situations that could cause camera lens condensation.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t want to speculate on whether these are isolated incidents with the Galaxy S26 or hints at a more worrying lapse in quality control \u2014 we simply haven\u2019t seen enough reports to suggest this is a major problem with the series. Don\u2019t be deterred from picking up a new Samsung flagship; just don\u2019t expose it to humidity or temperature extremes. The same goes even if you plan to rock an older model for a while longer yet.<\/p>\n

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