Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra will surely split opinions if leaked design is genuine

A weekend is a long time in tech leaks and that could be all that was needed for Samsung's forthcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra to go from eager anticipation to absolute derision. Leaked schematic designs for Samsung's next flagship have appeared online – and that's got people talking.

The design first appeared from UniverseIce on X, and shows a radical change for the Galaxy S27 Ultra. Meanwhile, the standard Galaxy S27 looks much like it did before.

The schematics show the Galaxy S27 Ultra moving to a rectangular camera section at the top – like the iPhone 17 Pro – squishing in the cameras, while dropping one of the telephoto lenses, as has long been rumoured.

In addition, a circle on the rear of the phone suggests that these phones will have integrated magnets for charging, although it's unlikely that the design will have circle on the back of the phone.

In successive posts we see an AI-generated version which looks like a cheap knock-off you might find on a market stall, as well as seeing Sonny Dickson – another common leaker – wading in with more information.

Two Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra models tipped

Dickson suggests that Samsung is going to offer the Ultra is two sizes, which might take us back to the existing rumour that there will be a Galaxy S27 Pro as part of a four-device line-up in 2027.

The reaction to these designs has been swift, with comments on Reddit calling the design "atrocious", "fugly" and another saying "it’s like they have no shame". The accusation is levelled that Samsung is copying the iPhone 17 Pro – which also happens to be Apple's most controversial design.

We've already seen the iPhone copied in the Honor 600 Pro, where I called out the contentious design, and that seems to be the general sentiment of this leak too. UniverseIce is known for being a reliable leaker, so there's every chance this will come to pass.

This design, however, hasn't come out of nowhere. It was previously suggested for the Galaxy S26 Edge, a phone that was never launched, as slim but compromised phones haven't found favour with buyers.

The question here is one of balance. Camera bumps notionally give the camera a little more space. That could allow for a larger sensor or more sophisticated lens, while the pursuit of thinner devices continues.

We've been through this cycle before within the last decade, and new battery technology allows for thinner designs without sacrificing battery capacity.

However, slimmer phones are also harder to cool and ultimately, year on year, customers call for better battery life and rarely call for thinner phones.

Samsung's Galaxy S27 family is not expected to launch until February 2027, so we can expect a lot more leaks before we see the final design.