Samsung may be preparing one of its biggest camera changes yet for the Ultra line. The company is reportedly weighing the removal of the 10 MP 3x telephoto lens from the Galaxy S27 Ultra, a move that would mark the end of a component that has remained a defining part of the Ultra series since the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
That shift would matter for more than just the camera count. A cleaner rear layout could make the phone easier to adapt for magnetic charging support, which has also been linked to Samsung’s broader redesign plans for the Galaxy S27 series.
A long-running camera element may be on the way out
The 3x telephoto unit first appeared in the Galaxy S Ultra lineup with the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Since then, the 10 MP sensor has reportedly stayed largely unchanged for six years, even as Samsung improved the main camera and image processing around it.
That stagnation has become harder to ignore in the premium smartphone market. Several reports suggest the camera no longer keeps pace with newer flagship sensors, and its imaging results are seen as less competitive than more modern options on current high-end phones.
Ice Universe, posting on X, says Samsung is considering removing the 3x lens from the Galaxy S27 Ultra. The setup in question is the fourth 10 MP camera that sits separately from the main camera island on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Design changes may be driving the decision
The possible removal of the 3x camera does not appear to be an isolated decision. Earlier reports have pointed to a broader redesign of the Galaxy S27 rear camera arrangement so it can better fit a MagSafe-style magnetic charging system.
A more complex camera layout could make that integration harder. For that reason, a simpler rear design would align better with Samsung’s reported direction if the Galaxy S27 series is meant to support magnetic accessories.
The rumored direction also suggests a visual language closer to devices such as the iPhone 17 Pro or Pixel 10 Pro. Both are seen as more naturally matched to a three-camera setup than the four-lens configuration Samsung has used on the Ultra model.
Zoom may survive even if the lens does not
Losing the dedicated 3x telephoto camera would not necessarily mean losing 3x zoom altogether. One possibility is that Samsung would shift that role to a very high-resolution main sensor instead.
The Galaxy S27 Ultra is said to have a chance of using a new Sony LYT-901 200 MP sensor. If that happens, the main camera could support native lossless cropping up to 3x, effectively handling medium zoom without a separate telephoto lens.
That approach is already familiar in the premium phone space. Oppo Find X9s Pro is said to use a 200 MP ISOCELL camera for a similar method, so Samsung would not be entering entirely untested territory.
Still only a rumor for now
For the moment, the entire plan remains speculative. Ice Universe has only said Samsung is considering dropping the 3x camera, without providing a confirmed reason behind the possible change.
Important details are still missing as well, including the final Galaxy S27 Ultra camera configuration. It is not yet clear whether Samsung will fully rely on a crop from the main sensor as a replacement for the telephoto lens.
The wait for more concrete information is still long. If Samsung keeps its February launch pattern for the Galaxy S27 series, there are still around 10 months before a clearer picture is expected to emerge.
For now, the most notable possibility is the end of the 10 MP 3x telephoto camera that has lasted since the Galaxy S21 Ultra. If that happens, the Galaxy S27 Ultra would represent a meaningful shift in Samsung’s camera philosophy, not just a small hardware adjustment.