Leaked renders of the Galaxy S27 Ultra suggest a dramatic new look – notice the flat, boxy back with a horizontal, pill-shaped camera bar instead of the old vertical island. This represents the first major visual redesign of the Ultra series in years.
Samsung’s next flagship Ultra phone is shaping up to be a real departure from the “safe” upgrades of recent generations. According to multiple leaks, the Galaxy S27 Ultra (likely launching in early 2027) will rip up the Ultra playbook with fresh hardware and a new design. Early rumors hint at a larger main sensor, radical camera rearrangement, a beefier battery, and other features long requested by fans. While none of this is official yet, the leaks paint a coherent picture: the S27 Ultra could be the Samsung phone that finally feels like a big, overdue upgrade. Below is everything we know so far, based on reputable industry tipsters and leaks:
- Dramatic redesign: A new, horizontal pill-shaped camera module spanning the back (see image above).
- Camera shake-up: A 200 MP main sensor with advanced HDR tech (LOFIC) and possibly variable aperture, a single 5× periscope zoom lens, a 50 MP ultra-wide, and no separate 3× telephoto. Even the selfie camera may be upgraded, and a FaceID-style “Polar ID” 3D unlock system is rumored.
- Bigger battery & charging: The battery might jump to around 5,500–6,000 mAh (versus 5,000 mAh before) thanks to a new silicon-carbon cell. Samsung is also said to be adding Qi2 magnets for MagSafe-style magnetic charging (i.e. attachable accessories and faster wireless charging).
- Top-end performance: Expect the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 6 “Pro” (on TSMC’s 2 nm node) running at sky-high clock speeds (possibly up to ~5 GHz) along with LPDDR6 RAM and UFS 5.0 storage. The display is still 6.9″ and AMOLED, likely updated to a next-gen panel.
- Legacy support (and surprises): The S Pen is apparently staying with the Ultra model, while intriguingly Samsung may also release a new “Galaxy S27 Pro” — a smaller ~6.4–6.7″ Ultra-like phone without an S Pen, trading the Ultra’s 5× zoom for a ~3.5× telephoto lens.
A Stunning New Design
The first rumors focus on the look of the S27 Ultra, and it’s a big change. All leaks point to a horizontal pill-shaped camera bar on the back, in place of the old vertical camera island. As one blog notes, this design is a clear homage to Samsung’s own 2019 Galaxy S10 and even Google’s Pixel series, which have used similar rear camera strips. In leaked renders (see above and below), the pill spans the width of the phone and houses all three rear cameras, giving the back a clean, modern profile. Notably, most leaks show this bar either black (contrasting) or color-matched to the phone body.
This redesign isn’t just for looks – it’s reportedly driven by hardware changes under the hood. Samsung is trying to implement Qi2 wireless charging with built-in magnets (similar to Apple’s MagSafe). In the current S26 Ultra, the charging coil ring sits too close to the camera housing, blocking many magnetic accessories. By moving the cameras into a wider horizontal bar, Samsung gains room to surround the battery with a circular array of magnets. This would enable MagSafe-style power banks, mounts, and faster wireless charging. Early reports even suggest Samsung struggled to fit magnets into the S26, so the S27’s camera re-arrangement may be a practical necessity for Qi2 compatibility.
Image: Another leaked mockup of the Galaxy S27 Ultra (front and back views). The front still has the familiar flat display with minimal bezels, but the rear camera layout is entirely new. Leaks say Samsung is also using high-end materials (maybe returning to titanium frame?) and will keep IP68 water/dust resistance.
On the front, the S27 Ultra looks mostly the same as before: a 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED screen with punch-hole selfie camera (centre) and very slim bezels. Leaked info suggests the display tech will be upgraded – Samsung is expected to use its latest M16 OLED panel (an 8-bit + dynamic FRC / 10-bit stack), which should offer brighter output and better HDR than the current model. The new panel would be on par with what Apple and Google are rumored to get in their 2027 phones. In short, expect a gorgeous 6.9″ QHD+ panel with 120 Hz (or even up to 144 Hz) and improved color/brightness.
Around the edges, Samsung may or may not bring back a titanium frame (reports conflict); at least one leak suggests Grade-5 titanium like earlier Ultras. Regardless of frame material, the phone is still expected to be very durable (possibly IP68/69 rated). The S Pen will remain a key feature of the Ultra, meaning the stylus slot stays in the bottom – only the rumored smaller S27 Pro is said to drop the pen. In short, the design refresh focuses on the camera block and internal space, but the Ultra’s trademark flat screen and stylus functionality carry on.
Camera Overhaul: More Pixels, Less Clutter
If the design is changed, the camera system is getting the same treatment. Most surprisingly, Samsung is said to be dropping the old 3× optical telephoto lens entirely. Instead of a separate 3× camera, the S27 Ultra would rely on its massive 200 MP main sensor to digitally crop for 2–3× zoom. In practice, this means the phone would have a triple rear camera rather than the usual quartet. The components (as leaked) would be:
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Main Camera: A new 200 MP ISOCELL HP6 sensor (size ~1/1.3″) with LOFIC HDR technology. This is Samsung’s first new 200MP Ultra sensor since 2023. LOFIC allows the sensor to handle high-contrast scenes in a “one shot” manner, dramatically improving dynamic range. Early leaks even hint that Samsung might reintroduce a variable aperture on this lens (f/1.4–f/2.8) – a feature last seen on the Galaxy S10. If true, the S27 Ultra could swap apertures for low-light or bright-light shooting (similar to how the iPhone 18 Pro is rumored to work). In any case, the main camera will handle normal shots and 2×–3× telephoto via high-quality crop from the full 200MP image.
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Ultra-wide: A new 50 MP ultra-wide sensor (up from 12 MP today). This should vastly improve detail and low-light performance on wide shots and even enable macro or portrait modes from the ultra-wide angle.
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Periscope Telephoto: One 50 MP periscope camera with 5× optical zoom (up to ~10× with AI-enhanced “Space Zoom”). The current S26 Ultra also has a 5× lens, so this may be an upgraded version (potentially with a wider aperture or improved optics). Leaks say the telephoto lens itself isn’t changing dramatically – the big upgrade is simply that Samsung will no longer need a separate 3× lens, because the main sensor covers that zoom range in software.
In short, the rear camera island goes from four lenses (plus flash) to three. As one leaker colorfully put it, the tiny 3× module “didn’t get stronger or weaker – it’s simply gone”. This decision may upset a few zoom enthusiasts, but early tests on past Samsung phones have shown the 200 MP crop often beats the old 3× shot, especially in daylight. The new 200 MP sensor’s bigger pixels and new tech (plus software) should make high-zoom cropping even better.
Finally, selfies: Most rumors still mention a 12 MP front camera (with autofocus) on the Ultra, but paired with a new Polar ID 3D face unlock system. Polar ID would be Samsung’s answer to Apple’s Face ID, using some combination of dot-projector/ToF or even a Metalenz 3D sensor to scan your face without a notch. The leaked details say it can tell a real face from a mask and even work in the dark. In other words, Samsung fans may finally get a secure, reliable face unlock – albeit only on the Ultra and Pro models (the regular S27 might stick with a 12 MP punch-hole camera).
All told, camera-wise the S27 Ultra looks like a win for flagship photography: much more light-gathering, higher-res sensors on main and ultra-wide, plus smarter zoom and added security on selfies. Early rumors give us confidence Samsung is finally addressing long-standing complaints (tiny sensors, lackluster telephoto) with real hardware changes.
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Power Under the Hood: Chip, Memory, and Display
As expected for an Ultra model, the Galaxy S27 Ultra should pack the very latest processor and memory. Samsung is once again partnering with Qualcomm: the leaked codename is “Snapdragon 8 Gen 6 Pro for Galaxy”, which is rumored to be a custom 2 nm chip fabricated for Samsung. Early info says Qualcomm may split the Gen6 chip into two SKUs, with the “Pro” version running at mind-blowing clock speeds (some rumors say over 5.5 or even 6.0 GHz in peak mode!). In short, this could easily be the fastest phone chipset ever, albeit one that may run very hot.
To feed that beast, the S27 Ultra is expected to use LPDDR6 RAM (in 12 GB or 16 GB sizes) and UFS 5.0 storage (256 GB, 512 GB, up to 1 TB). The phone will ship with One UI 9.5 on Android 17, featuring Samsung’s “Galaxy AI” enhancements (building on the AI camera and software features in previous models). We’re also likely to see upgraded cooling (larger heat spreaders, vapor chamber) to handle the Gen6 Pro chip.
On the display side, Samsung may not change the diagonal (still ~6.9″) or shape (still flat with squared corners). But the underlying panel is expected to be refreshed. Industry reports suggest Samsung Display will supply its best OLED material (the new M16 stack) to Apple and Google first, but the S27 Ultra might get the M16 panel soon after, or at least the improved M15. In any case, leaks hint at fixes to issues seen on the S26 Ultra: for example, better 10-bit color output (no 8-bit dithering) and possibly higher peak brightness. We can expect an adaptive 1–120 Hz (or more) refresh rate and excellent power efficiency – though the power-hungry Gen6 chip means the display may need to be as efficient as possible. Overall, we should see a top-tier AMOLED experience similar to Apple’s or Google’s newest.
Bigger Battery & Charging Upgrades
Samsung fans have long wanted a bigger battery in the Ultra phones, and the S27 Ultra might finally deliver. Multiple leaks point to a jump from 5,000 mAh to around 5,500–6,000 mAh. Part of this gain comes from new silicon-carbon cell technology: Samsung has been developing SiC batteries that pack more energy without growing much in size. Even a modest 10% capacity boost (5,000→5,500 mAh) would be welcome, and rumors of “up to 6,000 mAh” can’t be completely dismissed. (One unsubstantiated tip even claimed Samsung tested 18,000 mAh cells before finding them too thick, though those extreme figures should be taken with a grain of salt.)
Charging speeds are likely to stay at 65 W wired (Super Fast Charge 3.0) – Samsung often reserves bigger jumps for non-Ultra models. However, the wireless side is changing: along with Qi2 magnets (mentioned above), the S27 Ultra should support MagSafe-style 15–25 W wireless charging. The built-in magnets mean chargers and power banks can snap on perfectly, and Qi2 supports up to 15 W standard (with 25 W “HPP” mode). In practice, this means more stable and faster wireless charging than before, and access to the growing ecosystem of magnetic iPhone chargers and mounts. Samsung’s move to Qi2 magnetics is a clear catch-up to Apple, and the S27 Ultra may be the first Samsung phone to fully nail it.
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S Pen Stays – And Hello, “S27 Pro”
Despite rumors early on that Samsung might drop the S Pen, all current signals say the Ultra will keep it. The stylus is a signature feature for Galaxy Ultra buyers, and Samsung’s latest direction (with the Note line gone) suggests the Pen is here to stay in the big model. The S27 Ultra, as an “Ultra” device, almost certainly has the Pen slot and support.
Interestingly, leaks also describe a new mid-point model: the Galaxy S27 Pro. This would be a smaller phone (~6.4–6.7″) that packs many of the Ultra’s high-end specs except the S Pen. Essentially it’s Samsung’s answer to the “compact flagship” trend (think iPhone Pro vs Pro Max). According to reports, the S27 Pro would use the same 200 MP main and 50 MP ultra-wide sensors as the Ultra, along with the flagship Snapdragon Gen6 Pro chip. It might even retain a ToF or LiDAR-like sensor (for Polar ID 3D scanning). The key differences: a smaller 5,000 mAh battery and no S Pen. Early info suggests the Pro will swap out the Ultra’s 5× telephoto lens for a slightly shorter optical zoom (around 3.5× using Samsung’s new ALoP prism tech). In other words, the S27 Pro seems to be essentially “S27 Ultra mini” – a high-end camera and chip in a smaller, S Pen–free body. If true, this could attract users who found the Ultra too big but still crave top specs.
What’s Next?
All of these details come from leaks, tipsters, and render artists, so take them with the usual pinch of salt. Samsung has not confirmed any specifics, and until the official launch (likely Feb/March 2027) anything could change. However, the consistency of the leaks – from multiple credible sources – is notable. Every aspect of the S27 Ultra appears upgraded: new look, bigger sensor, faster chip, larger battery, and modernized features (MagSafe magnets and FaceID-like unlock).
For Galaxy fans, this is exciting news. After a couple of years of evolutionary updates, the S27 Ultra looks like it might finally be a revolutionary step. The consensus among leakers is that this could be Samsung’s most ambitious Ultra release since the 2023 S23 Ultra. Of course, we’ll have to wait for official specs and reviews to see if the real phone lives up to the rumors. But if even half of this pans out, the S27 Ultra would be the Android flagship to beat next year.
FAQ Schema Section
Q1. When will the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra launch?
Samsung has not officially announced the Galaxy S27 Ultra yet, but leaks suggest it could arrive during Samsung’s traditional Galaxy S-series launch event.
Q2. What camera upgrades are expected on the Galaxy S27 Ultra?
Leaks indicate a new 200MP HP6 main sensor, upgraded 5x periscope zoom camera, improved ultrawide lens, and possible variable aperture technology.
Q3. Will the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra have a bigger battery?
Rumors suggest a battery capacity between 5,500mAh and 6,000mAh, making it one of Samsung’s largest flagship batteries.
Q4. Which processor will power the Galaxy S27 Ultra?
The phone is expected to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chipset.
Q5. Is Samsung removing a camera from the Galaxy S27 Ultra?
Yes. Reports suggest Samsung may remove the dedicated 3x telephoto camera and rely on advanced sensor cropping from the main camera.
Sources: Recent leaks and insider reports compiled from tech news outlets and known leakers. (All information is unconfirmed until Samsung’s official announcement.)
