Samsung is reportedly planning to make some massive changes to the camera of its upcoming flagship smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra might get fewer rear cameras. According to multiple leaks, the company is reportedly planning to remove one of its telephoto cameras.
This comes after a well-known tipster, Ice Universe, claimed that the Galaxy S27 Ultra will feature a triple rear camera setup instead of the four-camera system that Samsung has used since the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The report has also been backed by Korean public ET News, which cited industry sources familiar with the company’s plans.
As per the leaks, the Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to include a 200-megapixel primary camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. This means that Samsung may remove the dedicated 3x telephoto camera that has remained part of the Ultra series for several generations.
Speaking of why, the move is linked to rising manufacturing costs rather than technical limitations. According to supply chain sources quoted in the report, smartphone camera technology has reached a stage where further hardware additions offer limited improvements, prompting manufacturers to focus on cost optimization.
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If the rumours turn out to be accurate, the decision may disappoint some users. I agree that the Samsung’s 10-megapixel 3x telephoto sensor has become dated compared to new higher-resolution alternatives, it remains useful for portrait photography and close up shots due to its focal length and shorter minimum focusing distance.
Many expected that Samsung may replace this sensor with a higher resolution telephoto camera instead of removing it. Many brands have already started adopting 50MP and 200MP telephoto sensors that offer better image quality.
The reports also suggest that Samsung may bring back variable aperture main cameras with the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra to keep up the race with the upcoming Apple iPhone 18 Pro.
Do note that these details are based on the leaks and Samsung has not confirmed it yet.