The Galaxy S21 Ultra could inherit an improved version of the Galaxy S20 Ultra's 108MP camera, as well as some significant upgrades that could help it fend off rival flagships early next year.

This is according to one of the most reliable leakers, Ice Universe, which says that the S21 (possibly also called S30) will use a second-generation version of the HM1 camera sensor. This is the 108MP sensor found in the Galaxy S20 Ultra and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

It will maintain the same massive camera resolution that Samsung introduced earlier this year, as expected, but what will definitely have to change is the actual experience of using the camera, although the HM1 sensor has the potential to capture a huge amount of detail in photos, according to our tests, it can be difficult to get the camera to focus correctly on the Galaxy S20 Ultra.

Samsung solved this problem by adding a laser depth sensor to the Note 20 Ultra, which is now one of our favorite camera phones on the market. Happily, in a reply to tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee, Ice Universe stated that he believes the S21 will have a similar sensor. With the help of the laser sensor, plus whatever other improvements Samsung has made to the second-generation sensor itself, expect this to mean a much better photo experience on the S21.

Previous rumors have mentioned that Samsung is also working on a 150MP camera sensor. This does not necessarily mean that the IU leak is false, as Samsung sells components to other phone manufacturers as well. Therefore, we may see a rival Android device with this even larger sensor next year, or Samsung's flagship following the S21 may be upgraded to a 150MP camera.

Other rumored Galaxy S21 features include a 4,800mAh battery, which is larger than the 4,000mAh S20 and 4,500mAh S20 Plus. This is believed to be accompanied by a 60W fast charge, which is a significant boost from the Galaxy S20's 25W charge.

The S21 series will likely use the Snapdragon 875 chipset, Samsung's first 5nm chip in the US. This is Samsung's first 5nm chip and will likely add more power and extend battery life due to improved power efficiency.

Under the screen of the S21 is Samsung's first under-display selfie camera. We know that this feature is at least being considered for the handset, so we hope it will be ready for launch next year. Also believed to be hidden under the panel is an upgraded ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, Qualcomm's 3D Sonic Max, which is 17 times larger than the current sensor and can scan two fingerprints at once.

All of these upgrades combined could make it an attractive competitor to the iPhone 12, which is expected to launch. Whatever happens, more and more rumors are likely to turn up in the countdown to February 2021, when the next Galaxy S series is expected to arrive.