The Galaxy S27 Ultra isn’t expected to launch until early 2027, but the leaks are already flying fast and furious. And if the rumors are true, Samsung’s next flagship could be its most polarizing—and most interesting—phone in years. From a controversial camera redesign to a long-overdue battery bump, here are the 10 biggest changes we’re expecting.
1. A Radical Camera Redesign That Screams “iPhone”
The most talked-about change is the rear camera module. According to CAD-based renders from reliable leaker @OnLeaks, the Galaxy S27 Ultra is abandoning Samsung’s signature vertical pill-shaped camera island for a horizontally aligned rectangular camera plateau.
The new design features a raised horizontal camera bar that closely resembles the iPhone 17 Pro—and fans are not happy. Reactions on social media have been swift and brutal, with comments calling the design “atrocious,” “fugly,” and accusing Samsung of having “no shame”. One insider even warned that Samsung’s Head of Product Design should brace himself for what could be “the most intense wave of criticism in Galaxy history”.
2. Four Cameras Become Three (But One Gets a Major Upgrade)
In a surprising move, the Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to drop one of its rear cameras, moving from four sensors to three. The dedicated 3x 10MP telephoto lens is being removed.
But here’s the twist: Samsung is replacing it with a new 50MP telephoto camera featuring 5x optical zoom—a significant upgrade from the old 10MP sensor. The main camera is also getting an upgrade to a 200MP ISOCELL HP6 sensor, which will handle 3x–5x zoom performance through cropping. The ultra-wide camera is rumored to be a 50MP Sony IMX855.
So: fewer cameras, but better ones. Whether that trade-off satisfies fans remains to be seen.
3. A Massive Battery Upgrade (Finally!)
Samsung has been using roughly 5,000mAh batteries in its Ultra phones for years. That’s finally changing. The Galaxy S27 Ultra is rumored to feature a silicon-carbon battery with a capacity between 5,700mAh and 6,000mAh.
Some early leaks even suggested capacities as high as 7,000mAh, though more recent reports point to the 5,700–6,000mAh range. The silicon-carbon technology allows for higher energy density without increasing the phone’s physical size—a welcome upgrade for power users.
4. A Thicker Camera Bump
With great cameras come great protrusions. The Galaxy S27 Ultra’s camera bump is expected to measure 12.53mm in total thickness when including the raised module. The phone body itself measures approximately 163.76 x 78.25 x 7.97mm—only slightly larger than the S26 Ultra.
That means the camera bump will protrude quite significantly, going from a 4.43mm bump to roughly 4.56mm. The good news? That extra space could accommodate larger camera sensors and a bigger battery.
5. Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 – A 2nm Beast
Under the hood, the Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to pack Qualcomm’s next-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 processor, manufactured on TSMC’s 2nm process.
Leaks suggest the chip will feature two prime cores clocked at an unprecedented 5.01GHz—a first for a smartphone processor. The chip is expected to support LPDDR6 RAM, delivering significant performance and efficiency gains over the previous generation. The processor alone could cost Samsung over $300 per unit.
6. LPDDR6 RAM and Up to 1TB Storage
Speaking of RAM, the Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to feature next-generation LPDDR6 memory, offering faster speeds and better power efficiency. Storage options are rumored to go up to 1TB.
7. A Brighter, Smarter Display
The display is expected to remain a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with QHD+ resolution and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (1Hz–120Hz). But there are two notable upgrades:
First, peak brightness is expected to jump to around 3,000 nits, making it one of the brightest displays on the market.
Second, the S27 Ultra may feature a Privacy Display technology that dynamically tightens viewing angles to keep sensitive content hidden from prying eyes.
8. The S Pen Lives On (For Now)
Good news for stylus fans: the S Pen is expected to remain in the Galaxy S27 Ultra, with its slot located at the bottom-left corner of the device.
However, there are conflicting reports. Some leaks suggest Samsung is considering removing the S Pen in certain prototypes to make room for a larger battery—potentially up to 7,000mAh. For now, the consensus is that the S Pen will stick around for at least one more generation.
9. Qi2 Wireless Charging with Built-in Magnets
The Galaxy S27 Ultra is rumored to support the Qi2 wireless charging standard, which includes built-in magnets similar to Apple’s MagSafe. This would allow for more secure attachment of magnetic accessories like power banks and car mounts.
Charging speeds are expected to remain at 60W wired and 25W wireless—the same as the S26 Ultra.
10. A Price Hike
All these upgrades come at a cost—literally. The Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to see a price increase. In South Korea, leaks suggest a hike of up to 150,000 won (roughly $104)** over the S26 Ultra. The expected price in the US is around **$1,499 for the base model.
Samsung has publicly warned that memory shortages are worsening through 2027 and 2028, with NAND prices climbing. Component costs—particularly the expensive 2nm Snapdragon chip—are likely to be passed on to consumers.
Revolutionary or Controversial?
The Galaxy S27 Ultra is shaping up to be Samsung’s most controversial phone in years. The iPhone-inspired camera design has already sparked outrage among fans. The removal of the 3x telephoto lens—even with a better 5x zoom—could alienate photography enthusiasts. And a price hike on top of all that? It’s a risky bet.
But there’s genuine excitement too. A massive battery upgrade, a 2nm processor, next-gen RAM, and a significantly brighter display could make this the most technically advanced Android phone ever made.
As one observer put it: what the Galaxy S27 Ultra lacks in aesthetics, it might make up for in specs.
Whether that’s enough to win over the critics—only time will tell.
What do you think? Is the Galaxy S27 Ultra’s redesign a bold step forward or a copycat misstep? And would you pay $1,500 for it? 📱✨
