SAMSUNG

Galaxy S27 Ultra to feature radical design change?

We are still a long way off from the launch of Samsung's Galaxy S27 series, but the rumor mill is already in full swing. This time, a report from SamMobile may have revealed the first glimpse of the Galaxy S27 Ultra's design. The image suggests a major change to the back of Samsung's upcoming flagship; the rear design appears completely overhauled.

The leaked image shows the Galaxy S27 Ultra featuring a thick, rectangular bar across the upper section of the back. Inside, there are three sensors: two cameras have individual rings, while the third sensor sits within a pill-shaped area alongside the laser autofocus system and the LED flash.

Another detail visible in the material is a circular magnetic ring on the back. This structure is reportedly linked to Qi2 wireless charging and would also allow for the attachment of compatible accessories without necessarily requiring a magnetic case. If this information proves correct, it would mark a significant shift in how the Galaxy S27 Ultra handles magnetic accessories.

The leak also reinforces rumors regarding a triple-camera setup on the rear. The main camera would be a 200MP unit with optical image stabilization (OIS), while the ultrawide lens would offer 50MP resolution and autofocus. The third sensor would be a 50MP telephoto lens featuring 5x optical zoom and OIS. These specifications have not yet been confirmed by Samsung.

Is Samsung taking inspiration from Apple? This alleged new design for the Galaxy S27 Ultra bears a strong resemblance to the popular iPhone 17 Pro, which could spark comparisons between the two devices. The source itself highlights this design similarity. However, it is important to note that this leaked image is not yet official, so it may not represent the smartphone's final look.

Is Samsung adopting Apple’s camera "island" style? In fact, it is quite plausible that this design actually refers to the camera setup for Samsung's upcoming flagship model—especially since other possibilities, such as upcoming ultra-flagships from Oppo, Vivo, or Xiaomi, seem even less likely. If this assumption holds true, Samsung will apparently adopt a camera bump design similar to the one expected for the iPhone 17 Pro, even though Xiaomi’s Poco phones featured a similar design long before Apple did.

One advantage of this design over the current approach—where camera modules are arranged on one side—would certainly be greater stability for the Galaxy S27 Ultra when placed on a table, provided the two larger cameras do not protrude too far beyond the camera bump itself. There would also be more room for Qi2 magnetic accessories compared to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, for instance. In the few hours since the leak, the first AI-generated images based on the design sketch have already appeared online. What do you think of this potential final camera design for the Galaxy S27 Ultra?

Samsung will apparently surprise us with a new camera design for its Galaxy S27 series next year, though it may face significant criticism for a design choice that clearly resembles other smartphones—most notably, of course, Apple's iPhone 17 Pro. And that might not be the only similarity between Samsung's upcoming Ultra flagship and the two iPhone Pro models of varying sizes.

As noted by well-known leaker Sonny Dickson—based on two slightly different CAD models—Samsung appears to be planning two different sizes for the Galaxy S27 Ultra as well. However, it remains unclear whether the smaller model is the rumored Galaxy S27 Pro or if there will actually be two Ultra models of different sizes, as suggested by posts from Sonny and Ice on X regarding the relative positioning of the side buttons.

The camera redesign brings new hardware...Design aside, an upgrade to Samsung's camera hardware—which has remained largely unchanged for years—is obviously a positive step forward. In particular, the 3x telephoto lens, based on a small 1/3.94-inch, 10-megapixel sensor, seems outdated and will likely be discontinued in 2027; this will free up space for larger batteries and, potentially, magnets around the Qi2 charging coil. According to previous leaks, the aging ISOCELL HP2 sensor currently powering the camera will likely be replaced by a more modern 200-megapixel sensor, such as the ISOCELL HPC, which will also handle 3x to 5x zoom performance in the future.

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