Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra could take a massive step backwards with an unwelcome downgrade
Not so much a camera bump, more a camera bumped off
Quick Summary
Samsung will reportedly downgrade the camera on the Galaxy S27 Ultra, moving to three rear cameras instead of four next year.
It is claimed that Samsung will ditch the 3x telephoto lens for the Ultra model in order to reduce manufacturing costs.
Samsung has only just revealed its latest folding phones – they're so new they aren’t even on sale yet – but that hasn’t stopped the rumours for its next big devices.
Usually rumours bring good news, whether it’s the leak of a fresh design or a camera upgrade, but the latest speculation surrounding the Galaxy S27 Ultra suggests this flagship phone could see a downgrade instead.
Camera changes incoming for the Galaxy S27 Ultra
According to ETNews (via 9to5Google), the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra could ditch the 3x telephoto camera lens, reducing it to just three lenses on the rear. This would be a first for the Ultra.
The report claims the 50-megapixel 5x telephoto lens would remain, as would the 200-megapixel main camera and 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, but the 3x telephoto could be no more in order to reduce manufacturing costs.
The Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra isn’t due to launch until early 2027, so there is still time for things to change, and there will no doubt be more leaks that appear between now and then. But for now, you may want to grab a Galaxy S26 Ultra if you really want that telephoto.
What else is new?
The other devices that are rumoured to launch alongside the Galaxy S27 Ultra include the Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27+, as you would expect, as well as the Galaxy S27 Pro.
The Pro model is rumoured to have a 200-megapixel main camera and 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, like the Galaxy S27 Ultra, but it is claimed it will opt for a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto lens – the one that’s being ditched on the Ultra.
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Meanwhile, the standard Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27+ are said to come with a 50-megapixel main camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera.
As mentioned, we are several months away from the release of these devices, so plenty could change. At the moment it’s looking like some interesting changes are coming.
Britta is a freelance technology journalist who has been writing about tech for over a decade. She's covered all consumer tech from phones, tablets and wearables to smart home and beauty tech, with everything in between. She has a fashion journalism degree from London College of Fashion and previously did a long stint as deputy editor of Pocket-lint, but you’ll now find her byline on several titles including GQ, the Express, the Mirror, TechRadar, Stuff and iMore. You'll never find her without her Apple Watch on, aiming to complete her rings so she can justify the extra bar of chocolate and she loves a good iPhone trick.
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