Samsung Galaxy S27 camera could leave Ultra fans unhappy
Samsung‘s upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra could lose its dedicated 3x telephoto camera, leaving users with fewer optical zoom options than on the current model. The reported change comes alongside a largely unchanged camera setup for the standard Galaxy S27 and S27+.
The details come from SammyGuru, which obtained information about camera sensors Samsung is evaluating for four smartphones: the Galaxy S27, S27+, S27 Pro and S27 Ultra.
Samsung is reportedly looking at replacing the Ultra’s current four-camera setup with three rear cameras, removing the separate 3x zoom lens but keeping the 5x telephoto.
That would leave a gap between standard and longer-range optical zoom. Digital cropping from the main sensor could compensate at some focal lengths, although the actual impact on image quality remains unknown.
Galaxy S27 camera specs at a glance
The leak points to a clear split in the lineup: the cheaper models appear to stay close to the current formula, while the Pro and Ultra get the higher-end sensors.
| Model | Main camera | Ultrawide | Zoom camera |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S27 | 50MP | 12MP | 3x telephoto |
| Galaxy S27+ | 50MP | 12MP | 3x telephoto |
| Galaxy S27 Pro | 200MP | 50MP | 3x telephoto |
| Galaxy S27 Ultra | 200MP | 50MP | 5x telephoto |
For Galaxy S27 and S27+ buyers, that would mean little movement on paper. Samsung is reportedly testing a familiar 50MP setup for both phones, with the possibility of either its current sensor or a Sony IMX955.
When it comes to the Pro and Ultra, the leak points to a new 200MP ISOCELL HP6 main sensor and a 50MP ultrawide. Both are also tipped to get a 16MP selfie camera.
What could this mean for Galaxy S26 owners?
Unless you’re a serious photographer, you probably won’t see much of an incentive to upgrade your Galaxy S26 or S26+ with the new hardware. We still don’t know what improvements to software processing could make a difference.
Galaxy S26 Ultra owners face a different trade-off. Although the new 200MP sensor might improve image quality, losing the dedicated 3x telephoto would reduce the number of optical focal lengths available.
