Samsung is reportedly planning the Galaxy S27 Ultra for an early 2027 launch, featuring a new 16MP selfie camera and a streamlined rear camera array. To reduce thickness and costs, the company may employ inkjet lens technology and remove the 3x telephoto lens, while potentially increasing battery capacity to over 5,500mAh.
Samsung is shifting its strategy for the 2027 flagship cycle, balancing high-end hardware upgrades with aggressive cost-cutting measures. While the Galaxy S27 Ultra aims to reclaim the battery and selfie-camera crown, it may do so by sacrificing the versatility of its zoom system.
Inkjet Technology and the Removal of the 3x Telephoto Lens
The Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to undergo a significant physical transformation in its camera module. According to Phonearena, Samsung will reportedly use an inkjet process for all three of the Ultra’s rear cameras to slim down the modules. Traditionally, manufacturers use light-blocking films to prevent ghosting and flare, but Samsung aims to replace these physical films with matte ink printed on the edges of lens elements. This allows the company to reduce the distance between lenses, resulting in a thinner and lighter module.
This space-saving measure may be a necessity as Samsung streamlines its hardware. Reports from 9to5Google and ETNews indicate that the Galaxy S27 Ultra will likely ditch the 10MP 3x zoom lens entirely. This would leave the Ultra with only three rear cameras—a first for the series—keeping only the 200MP main, 50MP ultrawide, and 50MP 5x telephoto sensors.
The decision to remove the 3x sensor is reportedly tied to the economic impact of “RAMageddon,” with the move serving as a way of [reducing] manufacturing costs
.
The 16MP Selfie Camera and Square Sensor Speculation
After sticking with a 12MP front sensor since the 2023 debut of the S23 series, Samsung is finally upgrading its selfie hardware. Gizchina and gsmarena.com report that both the Galaxy S27 Pro and S27 Ultra will feature a new 16MP front-facing camera.
This upgrade may involve more than just a resolution bump. digitaltrends.com notes that GalaxyClub suggests Samsung could adopt a square sensor format, similar to the approach used in Apple’s iPhone 17 series. A square sensor allows the device to capture both portrait and landscape selfies from a single capture by digitally cropping the image, meaning users would not need to rotate the phone to change orientation.
Battery Capacity and the iPhone 18 Pro Max Rivalry
Samsung is also attempting to break a long-standing 5,000mAh battery plateau that has persisted since the Galaxy S20 Ultra. According to indiatvnews.com, the company is testing new lithium-ion cells from Samsung SDI in the 5,600mAh to 5,800mAh range.
This push for higher capacity puts Samsung in direct competition with Apple’s rumored iPhone 18 Pro Max, which is said to feature a 5,425mAh battery for eSIM models and 5,235mAh for those with a SIM tray. If Samsung successfully implements a battery north of 5,500mAh, it would mark the first real capacity leap for the Ultra line in several years.
Lineup Expansion: The New Galaxy S27 Pro
The 2027 lineup introduces a new model: the Galaxy S27 Pro. Positioned as a compact alternative to the Ultra, the Pro will omit the S Pen and feature a smaller 6.47-inch body. Despite the smaller size, it is expected to mirror much of the Ultra’s high-end hardware.
| Model | Main Camera | Ultrawide | Telephoto | Selfie Camera |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S27 | 50MP | 12MP | 10MP | Uncertain |
| Galaxy S27+ | 50MP | 12MP | 10MP | Uncertain |
| Galaxy S27 Pro | 200MP | 50MP | 10MP (3x) | 16MP |
| Galaxy S27 Ultra | 200MP | 50MP | 50MP (5x) | 16MP |
Beyond cameras, androidauthority.com reports that the Privacy Display
feature—which uses a hardware layer to narrow viewing angles—will expand from the S26 Ultra to all four models in the S27 family.
Strategic Trade-offs for 2027
Samsung is essentially trading versatility for efficiency. By removing the 3x telephoto lens, the company saves on manufacturing costs and physical space, which it then reinvests into a larger battery and a more advanced selfie sensor. This suggests a shift in priority toward the content creator
demographic, where high-resolution front cameras and long battery life are more critical than having multiple zoom tiers.
However, some risks remain. Phonearena warns that the cost-cutting nature of the 3x camera removal might signal further retreats, such as the potential scrapping of previously reported plans for a variable aperture on the main camera.
