Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra rumours suggest the flagship could quietly drop the familiar 3x telephoto camera, while doubling down on battery life and raw performance.
According to noted tipster Ice Universe, early Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra rumours point to the removal of the 10-megapixel 3x telephoto camera that has appeared on several generations of Galaxy S Ultra phones.
The lens, which currently offers 3x optical zoom with optical image stabilisation and phase detection autofocus, has often been criticised for its small sensor and underwhelming impact on image quality.
In a post on X, Ice Universe joked that the "often mocked 3x telephoto" has "finally changed", not by getting better or worse, but by being removed altogether.
Samsung has not announced the Galaxy S27 line-up yet, so the change remains unconfirmed and, like all early leaks, should be treated with caution.
The current Galaxy S26 Ultra pairs that 3x telephoto with a 200-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel 5x periscope telephoto and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens, plus a 12-megapixel selfie camera.
Reports suggest the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra may instead lean on the high-resolution 200-megapixel sensor for shorter-range zoom via in-sensor cropping, while keeping the long-range 5x periscope and ultra-wide units in place.
Beyond the camera, Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra is tipped to run on Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chipset, likely built on a next-generation node and positioned as a step up from the Galaxy S26 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy.
The Ultra model is widely expected to use this Pro variant globally, while other Galaxy S27 models may continue Samsung's split Exynos/Snapdragon strategy.
Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra is also rumoured to debut a silicon-carbon battery, a technology that can store more energy in the same physical space than conventional graphite-based lithium-ion cells.
Internal testing reportedly includes high-capacity prototypes, with Samsung said to be targeting much higher charge-cycle endurance than today's batteries, though the S26 Ultra still ships with a 5,000mAh pack.
The Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to launch early next year, following the company's usual first-quarter flagship schedule, but Samsung has yet to confirm any details.
If the 3x telephoto camera is indeed dropped in favour of smarter zoom from a 200-megapixel main sensor, offset by a more efficient chip and higher-density battery, the Galaxy S27 Ultra could mark a controversial yet significant shift in how Samsung balances hardware complexity with everyday usefulness.