Everything in this article is a rumor. Samsung hasn't announced the Galaxy S27 Ultra, and nothing here is confirmed. We name the source for every claim so you can judge it yourself.
The headline leak: according to Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) and OnLeaks, Samsung is removing the 3x telephoto camera from the Galaxy S27 Ultra. That lens has been part of every Ultra since the S22 Ultra. 9to5Google reported on September 29, 2026 that renders show one fewer camera, and that the missing one is the 3x. Ice Universe says the 3x lens is "simply gone."
So is this a downgrade or a smart trade? Here is what we know.
Image: Samsung (Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra shown; the S27 Ultra has not been revealed)
Rumored Galaxy S27 Ultra specs
| Spec | Rumor | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 200MP ISOCELL HP6, 1/1.3-inch, with LOFIC | Ice Universe via Android Authority |
| Ultrawide | 50MP, improved, with autofocus | SamMobile |
| Telephoto | 50MP 5x periscope, f/2.9 (unchanged) | Ice Universe via Android Authority |
| 3x telephoto | Removed | Ice Universe, OnLeaks via 9to5Google |
| Processing | Warmer, more natural color, less oversharpening | Ice Universe; WalleGalaxy via Android Authority |
| Chip | Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 (2nm), worldwide | Digital Chat Station via SamMobile |
| Display | 6.9-inch; Samsung M16 OLED material; refresh rate reports conflict (120Hz vs 144Hz) | Sammy Fans, SamMobile |
| Battery | 5,534mAh rated (about 5,700mAh typical) | China 3C listing via GSMArena |
| Battery type | Silicon-carbon reported, but disputed | Forbes vs. Wccftech |
| Charging | 60W wired | China 3C listing via GSMArena |
| Launch | Early 2027 (January or February) | SamMobile, multiple reports |
| US price | No reliable US leak; Korean leak points to about an 8% increase | kro (@kro_roe) via Android Headlines |
We track the phone on our Galaxy S27 Ultra page and will update it as the leaks firm up.
Why Samsung would drop the 3x camera
The S26 Ultra's camera system, per Samsung, is:
- 200MP wide, f/1.4
- 50MP ultrawide, f/1.9
- 50MP 5x periscope telephoto, f/2.9
- 10MP 3x telephoto
That 10MP 3x camera is the odd one out. It has far less resolution than the other three and a much smaller sensor than the 5x. Reviewers have called it the weakest camera on the Ultra for years.
According to the leaks, Samsung thinks the new 200MP main sensor can handle 3x shots better by cropping into the middle of the sensor. The math is simple: a 3x crop keeps one-ninth of the sensor, so a 200MP sensor still produces about 22MP at 3x. That is more than double the old 3x camera's 10MP. 9to5Google also reports that cost-cutting is part of the reason.
What is LOFIC, and why does it matter?
The new main sensor is reportedly the ISOCELL HP6, a 1/1.3-inch 200MP sensor with LOFIC (lateral overflow integration capacitor). Ice Universe first reported it in March (via Android Authority).
In plain English, LOFIC lets each pixel store extra light in bright scenes instead of clipping to pure white. Android Authority describes it as "single-exposure HDR." That means:
- Better highlights (bright skies, neon signs, streetlights) without stacking several frames
- Fewer ghosting artifacts on moving subjects
- Better dynamic range in video, where multi-frame HDR is harder to do
Ice Universe also says Samsung is tuning the S27 Ultra for warmer, more natural color, better highlight control and cleaner shadows. A lesser-known tipster, WalleGalaxy, says Samsung is cutting back on oversharpening (both via Android Authority). Reducing oversharpening has been one of the most common requests from Galaxy owners for years.
What losing 3x means for portraits
This is where the trade-off becomes real.
The 3x lens covers roughly the 70mm focal length, the classic range for head-and-shoulders portraits. With it gone, you have two choices on the S27 Ultra:
- Crop the main sensor to 3x. You keep about 22MP, which is plenty of detail. But you are only using the center of the sensor, so you get less natural background blur than a true telephoto lens gives you. Expect the phone to lean more on software Portrait mode.
- Use the 5x lens. It sits around 115mm. That gives you real optical compression and blur, but it is too tight for many indoor portraits. You will be backing up across the room.
There is a low-light cost too. A crop uses only a fraction of the main sensor's light-gathering area, so 3x shots in a dim restaurant or at a party may look noisier than you would expect from a "200MP" camera.
Image: Samsung (Galaxy S26 Ultra)
Who wins: people who shoot landscapes, cities and everyday 1x and 5x photos, because they get a better main camera and more natural processing.
Who loses: people who shoot a lot of 3x portraits, pets and food, especially indoors.
Galaxy S27 Ultra vs S26 Ultra camera
| Galaxy S26 Ultra (official) | Galaxy S27 Ultra (rumored) | |
|---|---|---|
| Main | 200MP, f/1.4 | 200MP ISOCELL HP6, 1/1.3-inch, LOFIC |
| Ultrawide | 50MP, f/1.9 | 50MP, improved, with autofocus |
| 3x telephoto | 10MP | None (crop from main) |
| 5x telephoto | 50MP, f/2.9 | 50MP, f/2.9 |
| Processing | Cooler, sharper look | Warmer, more natural, less sharpening |
| Chip | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 |
| Battery | 5,000mAh | About 5,700mAh |
| Launch price | $1,299.99 | Not announced |
Full S26 Ultra specs are on its spec page, and you can track the rumored upgrade on the S26 Ultra vs S27 Ultra comparison.
The rest of the S27 Ultra rumors
- Chip: Digital Chat Station says the S27 Pro and S27 Ultra will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 worldwide, built on TSMC's second-generation 2nm process (via SamMobile). The same chip is in the OnePlus 16 and Motorola Signature 27.
- Battery: A China 3C certification lists a 5,534mAh rated capacity. GSMArena says that likely means about 5,700mAh typical, the first increase over 5,000mAh on an Ultra in years. Charging stays at 60W. Forbes reported a silicon-carbon cell, but Wccftech reports Samsung decided against it because of cost. Treat battery chemistry as unknown.
- Display: A 6.9-inch panel is expected. Sammy Fans reports that Samsung's new M16 OLED material is coming, but not its maximum 165Hz or 10,000-nit specs. Some trackers list 144Hz, while SamMobile's roundup still says 120Hz.
- Price: We haven't seen a reliable US price. Tipster kro (@kro_roe) reports a Korean price increase of about 8% (via Android Headlines). If that carried over to the US, the S27 Ultra would land around $1,399, up from $1,299.99. That is our estimate, not a leak.
- Launch: Early 2027, most likely January or February, based on Samsung's usual schedule.
FAQ
Is the Galaxy S27 Ultra really losing the 3x camera?
Ice Universe and OnLeaks both say so, and renders reported by 9to5Google show one fewer lens. Samsung hasn't confirmed it.
Will the S27 Ultra still zoom to 3x?
Yes. It would crop the 200MP main sensor, which gives you about 22MP at 3x.
Is the 5x telephoto changing?
Probably not. Ice Universe called a rumor about replacing the 5x module "100% false" (via GSMArena).
When will the Galaxy S27 Ultra launch?
Early 2027 is expected. No date has been announced.
Should I wait for the S27 Ultra or buy the S26 Ultra?
If you shoot a lot of 3x portraits, the S26 Ultra's dedicated lens may suit you better. If you want the best main camera and battery, wait.
Bottom line
On balance, losing the 3x is more good than bad. Samsung is cutting its weakest camera, putting the money into a better main sensor and finally fixing processing that many owners call oversharpened. The cost is real for portrait shooters: 3x photos become crops, with less natural blur and weaker low-light results. We will judge the S27 Ultra on real samples, not spec sheets. Until Samsung announces it, treat all of this as a rumor.
Comparing Samsung with Apple? See the Galaxy S27 Ultra vs iPhone 18 Pro Max comparison.
Sources
- 9to5Google: Galaxy S27 Ultra's missing camera is its 3x zoom
- Android Authority: Galaxy S27 Ultra camera leak reveals major upgrades
- Android Authority: S27 Ultra could get a major camera processing upgrade
- Android Authority: Galaxy S27 Ultra LOFIC sensor leak
- SamMobile: Galaxy S27 Pro and Ultra Snapdragon chip details
- SamMobile: Galaxy S27 Ultra, everything we know
- GSMArena: S27 Pro and S27 Ultra battery and charging specs
- GSMArena: Ice Universe on the S27 Ultra telephoto
- Sammy Fans: S27 Ultra M16 OLED display rumor
- Wccftech: S27 Ultra won't use silicon-carbon battery
- Android Headlines: Galaxy S27 Ultra price hike leak
- Samsung Newsroom: Galaxy S26 series
Product images: Samsung press materials (Galaxy S26 series). No official Galaxy S27 Ultra images exist yet.
