Camera Capers
As the Galaxy S26 lineup begins to receive the One UI 9 upgrade, divergent rumors regarding Samsung’s imminent flagship persist. The most heated discussion revolves around the camera enhancements (or lack thereof) for the Galaxy S27 Ultra.
It is generally accepted that Samsung will eliminate one camera and reconfigure the arrangement to resemble that of the iPhone, yet uncertainty lingers about the remaining telephoto camera. Will it feature a new sensor and lens, or will it retain the same configuration as the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
A leak from phonefuturist indicates that Samsung might transition to a 4x optical zoom telephoto with a 1/1.9-inch sensor, later clarifying that this was specifically for the S27 Ultra.
Ice Universe subsequently emerged to counter this assertion, claiming, “Do not trust that source, which has a long track record of disseminating inaccurate information,” adding it “is 100% false.”
Android Headlines x OnLeaks
To be fair, phonefuturist only mentioned that Samsung was “testing” the “super telephoto”. Ice added that Samsung will retain the same 5x and 1/2.52-inch sensor previously utilized.
Currently, Roland Quandt from WinFuture has entered the fray, declaring that the S27 Ultra features a 50Mp telephoto with 5x and a Sony sensor. He stated, “period. no idea why we are even speculating about this.”
Thus, it’s two for Samsung making modifications (excluding the removal of one camera) and one for it remaining unchanged.
Determining whom to trust is akin to wagering on red or black at a casino. The S27 lineup unveiling is still a few months off, so clarity is likely to improve as the launch date approaches.
Quandt also indicated that the S27 Ultra will include a 50Mp ultrawide camera and a 16Mp front camera. This would mean the same resolution for the ultrawide as its predecessor but an upgrade from 12Mp for the selfie camera.
In additional S27 updates…
Display Features
The Ultra variant is expected to feature Samsung’s (specifically Samsung Display) new M16 OLED panel for its display. This was revealed earlier this week, with the iQoo 16 (launching on 29 September) confirmed as the first device to utilize it, boasting an impressive brightness of 10,000 nits.
This indicates that, despite prevalent rumors, the Pixel 11 phones did not receive the M16 OLED.
Chipset Controversy
The S27 Ultra may utilize Qualcomm’s forthcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chipset, expected to be unveiled next week. The Xiaomi 18 series could be the first to be officially linked with this chipset, but the S27 Ultra might not feature it universally, with Samsung potentially opting for its own Exynos 2700 in certain regions.
Memory Speculations
Lastly, amid some discourse about which S27 variants will incorporate the Privacy Display, Samsung is rumored to implement LPDDR5X memory in the more affordable S27 and S27+ models while only the Pro and Ultra iterations will have next-gen LPDDR6 chips.
A singular rumor has hinted at an additional S27 model as part of the lineup, the S27 Edge. This would mark Samsung’s re-entry into the slim phone market after the S25 Edge.
The Final Countdown
If you’re losing your mind over what kind of camera Samsung plans to include in the S27 Ultra, it might be wise to step outside for some fresh air—perhaps even take your Jack Russell out for a stroll. Meanwhile, the rest of us will keep a vigilant eye on the rumor mill while tending to our current devices, patiently awaiting the official news. Keep your wallets at the ready, folks—the S27 journey is just beginning.
