Author: sparta

If your images appear lackluster or low-resolution, Focus Enhancer might be the culprit.

One of my preferred methods for capturing images using a smartphone is by utilizing the telephoto lenses located on the back. The Galaxy S26 Ultra boasts at least one additional lens compared to most smartphones, providing Ultra users with even more opportunities to snap incredible photos, regardless of the distance to the subject.

However, I found myself feeling somewhat… unimpressed… by the quality of certain “telephoto macro” photos I captured with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. To state that numerous images resembled those taken with a 2010 device is no exaggeration, and I realized too late that these images were genuinely subpar. Examine any of the examples below closely to see what I mean.

Fortunately, I simply needed to disable two excessively “helpful” settings that ultimately proved less helpful than anticipated. After making this adjustment, the telephoto macros from the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 3x and 5x lenses provided the rich bokeh background I had been seeking, accompanied by crisp details and a tight focus that truly makes photos stand out.

Focus “Enhancer?” I disagree.

Notice all that compression and lack of clarity in the image of my cat when Focus Enhancer is active in the comparison above? Click the full-screen option on the image to grasp my point. It’s not merely poor; it’s utterly embarrassing for a $1300 device launched in 2026 to produce. However, it turns out this isn’t due to the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s hardware. It’s the software.

By default, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s software automatically selects among the four rear cameras based on the distance from the subject, lighting conditions, and the zoom level. While this can be effective in certain scenarios, I find that Samsung’s software often overestimates its capabilities. That’s why I choose to disable these features and take control myself.

Rest assured, disabling these options will not prevent you from capturing macro images using any lens you prefer, but we’ll discuss that shortly.

The initial step is to turn off Auto Lens Switching, which necessitates downloading Samsung’s camera assistant application. Thankfully, there’s a shortcut within the camera software that streamlines the process Samsung previously required.

How to disable Auto Lens Switching and Focus Enhancer

1. Open the camera application.
2. Tap the options icon next to the camera zoom buttons. It appears as four dots.
3. Tap the settings gear to access camera settings.
4. Scroll down to Camera Assistant and click the download button beside it.
5. When the Galaxy Apps store launches, tap the Install button to set up Samsung Camera Assistant.

With Camera Assistant now installed and ready for action, return to your camera application and access camera settings, then proceed as follows:

1. In camera settings, scroll down to and tap Camera Assistant.
2. Near the top, toggle the switch for Auto lens switching to disable it.
3. Go back to the camera viewfinder and tap the 3x zoom button.
4. Move within a few inches of any object until the Macro button appears to the left of the zoom buttons. It resembles a flower.
5. Tap the Macro button to turn off Focus Enhancer. The icon will be greyed out and have a line crossed through it when it is turned off.

“Telephoto macro” will elevate your smartphone photography experience

As telephoto cameras have improved over the years, I’ve relished using them to enhance my photography and produce images that resemble those taken with a much more powerful camera than your smartphone. This is because pictures captured with these sensors frequently showcase a shallow depth of field and beautiful bokeh (the background blur that emphasizes a subject), along with sharp detail in the elements you wish to photograph.

If you enjoy capturing images of animals, food, flowers, or simply want to take artsy shots for Instagram (people still do that, right?), then the telephoto macro technique is exactly what you need. And now that the automatic lens-switching nonsense has been disabled, you can select the lens and compose the shot precisely, instead of relying on software that lacks contextual understanding.

The next time you take a photo, try tapping that 3x or 5x button and aligning the shot. You’ll need to pull the phone back slightly—usually a few more inches— which also aids in framing the shot more deliberately.

When it comes to food, I find this approach allows me to compose my frames very intentionally, adding rich depth to the photo that makes it appear as if someone with a professional camera took it. Family and pet photos are increasingly shot using telephoto lenses these days, as they accentuate the subject and generate rich, portrait-quality images without the fringing and blur calculation errors.