Galaxy S27 Ultra Could Reportedly Retire Samsung's 6-Year-Old 3x Telephoto Camera

It has been only two months since Samsung made the Galaxy S26 series official. However, we have already started receiving details about the upcoming flagship "Galaxy S" lineup, the Galaxy S27 series. This time, it is the Galaxy S27 Ultra, and it looks like Samsung is planning a major camera overhaul with the upcoming phone.

Galaxy S27 Ultra May Bid Farewell to 10 MP Telephoto Lens

Popular leaker Ice Universe has posted on X claiming that Samsung is considering removing the 3x telephoto camera from the upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra. It refers to the fourth 10 MP camera that lives outside the camera plateau of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Image Credit: Beebom Gadgets

For those unaware, the Galaxy S21 Ultra was the first phone to introduce the 10 MP 3x telephoto camera. It has remained unchanged for the past 6 years, outgrowing its purpose by leaps and bounds. Several users have reported underwhelming results from the 3x camera since it uses an outdated imaging sensor. However, that could change with the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

Now, while the tipster has not shared the exact reason for this change, we believe this is part of a broader strategy to introduce a major Galaxy S27 series design change, which revolves around the rear cameras. A recent report has outlined Samsung's plans to revamp the rear cameras of the Galaxy S27 series in order to enable MagSafe charging.

Image Credit: Siddhartha Samaddar/ Beebom Gadgets

For that purpose, the Galaxy S27 Ultra will either have to adopt the design language of the iPhone 17 Pro or the Pixel 10 Pro. However, both arrangements are best suited for a triple-camera setup and not a quad-lens module. Hence, to successfully bring the new design shift and unlock native magnetic charging, we believe the 10 MP 3x telephoto lens has to go. That is the only sensible trade-off.

As for achieving the 3x zoom capability, we believe the Galaxy S27 Ultra will incorporate the all-new Sony LYT-901 200 MP camera sensor, which can enable native lossless crop of up to 3x, helping the main camera double down as an optical zoom sensor. It is similar to what the Oppo Find X9s Pro does with its 200 MP ISOCELL camera.

That said, at the time of writing, all of this is just speculation and should be taken with a pinch of salt. If Samsung follows its February launch cycle for the Galaxy S27 series, we still have close to 10 months before anything concrete can emerge. So, stay tuned.