Samsung’s Galaxy S27 Ultra is already drawing attention for a rumored camera change that would reshape one of the Ultra line’s most familiar features. According to Ice Universe in a post on X, the 10-megapixel 3x telephoto camera may be removed instead of upgraded.
That detail matters because the 3x telephoto has long filled an important gap in Samsung’s flagship zoom setup. If the rumor proves accurate, the company would be reconsidering how the next Ultra model handles short- to mid-range zoom shots.
A notable shift in the Ultra camera formula
The reported change would affect a sensor that has not been especially flashy, but still plays a practical role. On the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the 3x telephoto camera uses a 10-megapixel sensor with an f/2.4 aperture, PDAF, and OIS, and it supports 3x optical zoom.
Placed between the main camera and the periscope module, that lens helps cover a range that many users rely on for everyday photography. Removing it would force Samsung to reorganize the way the phone manages zoom performance across the rear camera system.
At this point, there is no confirmation of what would replace that capability. The leak only indicates that the 10-megapixel telephoto module would not be present on the Galaxy S27 Ultra.
How the current Galaxy S26 Ultra is arranged
The Galaxy S26 Ultra offers a clear reference point for what could change. Its rear setup includes a 200-megapixel main camera with an f/1.4 aperture, PDAF, and OIS, plus a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom and an f/2.9 aperture.
It also uses a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera with an f/1.9 aperture and a 120-degree field of view. For selfies and video calls, Samsung places a 12-megapixel front camera with an f/2.2 aperture on the device.
Against that configuration, losing the 3x telephoto would be a visible adjustment. The change would not just affect specifications on paper, but also how Samsung structures zoom behavior in its next Ultra phone.
More than one rumor is shaping the next Ultra model
Camera changes are not the only speculation surrounding the Galaxy S27 Ultra. The device is also said to be getting a Qualcomm chipset that has not been announced yet and may be sold as Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro.
That chip is described as a custom SoC for Samsung. It is expected to offer better performance and efficiency than the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy used in the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which is built on a 3nm octa-core design.
There is also talk of a silicon-carbon battery. That would mark Samsung’s move away from lithium-ion cells toward a battery type with higher energy density, and it could allow the Galaxy S27 Ultra to exceed the 5,000mAh battery found in the current model.
For now, the Galaxy S27 Ultra remains a rumor-driven device, but the combination of a possible camera removal, a new Qualcomm chip, and a silicon-carbon battery has already made it one of Samsung’s most watched upcoming flagships.