Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra release date expectations, price estimates, and upgrades
Galaxy S26 Ultra for illustrative purposes. | Image by PhoneArena
What's expected to change vs the Galaxy S26 Ultra:
- Possible battery upgrade to 5,200-5,500mAh, leveraging silicon-carbon technology – earlier 6,000-7,000mAh rumors appear to have been walked back
- A revamped camera array, featuring an upgraded main sensor with variable aperture, but possibly at the cost of a 3x telephoto lens
- Upgraded front-facing camera to 16MP – the first selfie camera upgrade on the Ultra since 2022
- The latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro for Galaxy, allowing for serious power
- New "Polar ID" feature for authentication and security
- A design echoing the S26 Ultra with no major differences expected
- S Pen unchanged
- A Galaxy S27 Pro may accompany the Ultra – smaller display, no S Pen, and Exynos 2700 in most markets
Expected release timeline:
- The Galaxy S27 series is likely getting unveiled in January or February 2027.
Expected price:
- The Galaxy S27 Ultra's pricing has not leaked just yet.
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Galaxy S27 Ultra release date
The Galaxy S27 Ultra, S27, and S27 Plus are expected to be unveiled in January or February 2027, continuing Samsung's pattern from previous years. A Galaxy S27 Pro is also rumored to join the lineup – a smaller, S Pen-free take on the Ultra experience.
| Device family | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S27 series | February 2027* | February-March 2027* |
| Galaxy S26 series | February 25, 2026 | March 11, 2026 |
| Galaxy S25 series | January 22, 2025 | February 7, 2025 |
* - probable dates
The Galaxy S27 Pro, if it materializes, is expected to be closer in size to the base S26 than the S26 Ultra and would be the first time Samsung has offered a "compact Ultra" option in the S series.
Expect an in-person Unpacked event, streamed online, followed by a roughly 10-day pre-order window before the phones hit shelves.
Galaxy S27 Ultra price and deals
Leaks haven't detailed pricing for the Galaxy S27 Ultra so far. It's worth noting that Samsung raised prices on the S26 and S26 Plus by $100, the S26 Ultra's 512 GB version by $80, and the 1 TB option by a steep $140.
| Galaxy model | 256GB of storage | 512GB of storage | 1TB of storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S27 Ultra | $1299.99* | $1499.99* | $1799.99* |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | $1299.99 | $1499.99 | $1799.99 |
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | $1299.99 | $1419.99 | $1659.99 |
*- anticipated prices
We expect the same higher prices to carry over next year, but another hike isn't out of the question – especially with an even bigger memory shortage expected in 2027.
As for the Galaxy S27 Pro: if it materializes, pricing should land between the Galaxy S27 Plus's $1,099.99 and the Galaxy S27 Ultra's $1,299.99.
Galaxy S27 Ultra deals to expect:
- Samsung: As usual, we expect Samsung to offer generous trade-in deals for the S27 Ultra. This year, the S26 Ultra got enhanced trade-in options and store credit.
- Verizon: The carrier is likely to offer generous trade-in deals that could get you the base storage option for free, or close to it. These will likely require an eligible trade-in or a new line.
- AT&T: AT&T is also likely to offer steep discounts with trade-in and a specific plan to bring the S27 Ultra's price down as much as possible.
- T-Mobile: T-Mobile is also known for strong deals on new devices, and the S27 Ultra should be no exception.
Galaxy S27 Ultra camera
The main sensor of the Galaxy S27 Ultra is reportedly getting bumped up to a larger 1/1.12-inch sensor named ISOCELL HPA. Rumor has it this new sensor may support LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) – a technology that gives each pixel extra room to store excess light, so the sensor can capture bright highlights and dark shadows in the same shot without the usual multi-frame HDR trick, for a noticeably wider dynamic range.
Galaxy S27 Ultra expected camera setup:
- The main camera may keep 200 MP resolution but with a new sensor
- 50 MP ultra-wide camera
- 50 MP zoom camera
- 10 MP 3x optical zoom camera
- 16MP front-facing camera – an upgrade from the 12MP selfie camera Samsung has used on the Ultra since the S23 Ultra
Reliable leaker IceUniverse shared that the S27 Ultra might ship with a modified version of ISOCELL HPA. It may be called HP6 and measure just 1/1.3 inches – smaller than the HPA, while keeping its strong performance.
In a recent X post, Ice also suggested the 10 MP 3x telephoto camera could get cut, making the S27 Ultra a triple-camera phone rather than a quad-camera one.
IceUniverse's post on X. | Image by IceUniverse on X
Meanwhile, the same leaker has previously claimed Samsung plans to swap out three of the S27 Ultra's sensors: the main, the ultra-wide, and the front-facing one.
If that holds true, only the 50MP telephoto camera would carry over unchanged from the S26 Ultra. The periscope camera may get a wider aperture, though exact specs haven't surfaced yet.
The front camera upgrade is particularly notable. Samsung dropped from a 40MP selfie camera on the S22 Ultra all the way to 12MP on the S23 Ultra in 2023, and has kept it at 12MP ever since. A jump to 16MP – confirmed by multiple sources including GalaxyClub – would be the first selfie upgrade in four years.
The front camera upgrade is particularly notable. Samsung dropped from a 40MP selfie camera on the S22 Ultra all the way to 12MP on the S23 Ultra in 2023, and has kept it at 12MP ever since. A jump to 16MP – confirmed by multiple sources including GalaxyClub – would be the first selfie upgrade in four years.
Tipster Smart Pikachu suggested the Galaxy S27 Ultra's new 200 MP main sensor could come with a variable aperture. The tipster didn't elaborate further, but the iPhone 18 Pro is also rumored to get a variable aperture this year.
Variable aperture lets the camera lens physically adjust its opening size, which would mean better low-light shots and more natural background blur.
Galaxy S27 Pro camera: The Galaxy S27 Pro is expected to share a very similar camera setup to the Ultra: a 200 MP primary camera, a 50 MP ultra-wide one, and a 50 MP telephoto – with multiple credible sources now corroborating this triple-camera configuration. The Pro is also expected to get the 16MP front camera upgrade.
The Galaxy S27 Pro may also come equipped with an ALoP telephoto system capable of 3.5x optical zoom. ALoP (All Lenses on Prism) is a next-gen telephoto design that boosts brightness and cuts noise while also reducing the camera module's footprint. Samsung first showed it off in 2024, but no Galaxy phone has used it yet. Whether it ends up on the Pro, the Ultra, or both is still unclear.
A comparison between traditional telephoto lenses we see in phones and the new technology. | Image by Samsung
Galaxy S27 Ultra storage
Galaxy S27 Ultra rumored storage capacity:
- 256 GB
- 512 GB
- 1 TB
No storage changes are expected – the same three tiers from the S26 Ultra should carry over.
Galaxy S27 Pro storage: likely to mirror the Ultra's configuration, though nothing specific has leaked.
Galaxy S27 Ultra design
No renders have leaked yet for the S27 Ultra, and no major redesign is expected. The Galaxy S26 Ultra already shook things up with a camera island and a unified design language across the lineup – that look is expected to carry over.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra design for illustrative purposes. | Image by PhoneArena
Earlier rumors had claimed that Samsung may ditch the S Pen for the Galaxy S27 Ultra, then shifted to suggest an upgrade was coming instead. More recent reports suggest the S Pen is staying the same with Samsung shelving plans to upgrade it this round.
Tipster yeux1122 points to a weight reduction – the leaker gives no specific figure, but thickness is expected to stay at 7.9mm, matching the S26 Ultra's 214g build.
A new authentication option called Polar ID is reportedly coming. It reportedly works similarly to Apple's Face ID but without a front-facing cutout, and may be able to distinguish between a live person and a 3D mask – useful for secure payments and health data protection in low-light environments.
Galaxy S27 Pro design: The S27 Pro is expected to be notably more compact than the Ultra, with a display of just under 6.5 inches – closer in size to the base S26 than the S26 Ultra. No S Pen support is expected.
Galaxy S27 Ultra display
No display leaks have surfaced yet. Screen size isn't expected to change from the familiar 6.9 inches.
| Phone | Screen size | Brightness |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S27 Ultra | 6.9"* | 2,600 nits peak brightness* |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 6.9" | 2,600 nits peak brightness |
* - anticipated sizes
The Galaxy S26 Ultra introduced a hardware-based Privacy Display feature – letting the screen hide its contents from anyone viewing at an angle, configurable by app or fully. It was the biggest display upgrade Samsung brought to its flagship in 2026, and it may or may not return for the S27 Ultra.
How the new Privacy Display feature on the S26 Ultra works. | Image by PhoneArena
Beyond that, expect a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with an adaptive refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz.
Galaxy S27 Pro display: The S27 Pro is expected to come with a display of just under 6.5 inches – with ETNews pointing specifically to 6.47 inches. Interestingly, the Privacy Display feature, previously exclusive to the S26 Ultra, is also expected to expand to the S27 Pro.
Galaxy S27 Ultra battery
The earlier 6,000-7,000mAh battery rumors for the S27 Ultra appear to have been optimistic. A more recent leak from @phonefuturist suggests Samsung is currently testing cells rated at 5,600mAh or 5,800mAh. IceUniverse, one of the most reliable Samsung leakers, pushed back further, stating there is "no reliable evidence or credible information" the S27 Ultra will exceed 5,500mAh.
The most realistic expectation right now: a battery somewhere in the 5,200–5,500mAh range – a genuine improvement over the S26 Ultra's 5,000mAh cell (which Samsung has used for seven consecutive years, starting with the S20 Ultra in 2020), but not the dramatic leap some earlier leaks suggested. Silicon-carbon chemistry is still expected to play a role, allowing more capacity in the same physical space.
As a fun side note, internal testing reports suggest Samsung initially experimented with wildly oversized capacities. Engineers reportedly evaluated prototype cells rated at 12,000mAh, 18,000mAh, and even 20,000mAh.
Ultimately, these oversized cells got scrapped for being too thick – the 18,000mAh cell measured 12.3mm thick, well past Samsung's 9.3mm target for the phone.
Tipster yeux1122 says the massive batteries tested may also have had longevity issues, which is reportedly why Samsung held off until now.
A battery test report from Samsung. | Image by Shrödinger
The Galaxy S26 Ultra didn't get a battery size bump, sticking with the same 5,000mAh cell as its predecessors. Charging speeds on the S26 Ultra did improve, though, now hitting 65W wired. The S27 Ultra will likely keep the same charging speeds, and possibly add Qi2 support.
Galaxy S27 Pro battery: The Pro is expected to pack around 5,000mAh – in line with the current Ultra, and a reasonable fit for its more compact body.
Galaxy S27 Ultra features and software
One UI 9.5 on top of Android 17 is the OS expected for the S27 Ultra. Leaks are quiet on new Galaxy AI specifics for now, though refinements to Now Bar, Now Brief, and Bixby – all upgraded on the S26 Ultra – are likely to carry over and improve further.
Meanwhile, Samsung is likely sticking with its 7-year software support commitment for the S27 Ultra.
Galaxy S27 Pro features and software: Expected to match the Ultra's software experience, with the notable exception of S Pen features, which remain Ultra-exclusive.
Galaxy S27 Ultra hardware and specs
Galaxy S27 Ultra's expected specs:
- CPU: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro
- RAM: 12 or 16 GB
- Battery: 5,200-5,500 mAh
- Charging: 65 W wired charging, 15 W wireless
- Storage: 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
- Camera setup: 200 MP main, 50 MP ultra-wide, 50 MP 5x, 16 MP selfie
Tipster Digital Chat Station recently claimed the Galaxy S27 Ultra may run on a custom 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chip. Qualcomm is reportedly splitting the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 into standard and Pro versions this time, with the Pro version hitting clock speeds around 5GHz.
Peak frequencies of 5.5GHz or even 6.0GHz are rumored for the 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro – which, if accurate, would be remarkable for a phone chip.
According to DCS, the non-Pro chip – possibly for the standard Galaxy S27 in some markets – may come with reduced cache and specs, aimed at upper-mid-range devices.
Galaxy S27 Pro expected specs:
- CPU: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro (US only) / Exynos 2700 (most other markets)
- Battery: ~5,000 mAh
- Camera: 200 MP main, 50 MP ultra-wide, 50 MP telephoto, 16 MP selfie
- Display: ~6.47 inches
- S Pen: No
The Galaxy S27 Pro's regional chip split is worth knowing about upfront. Most buyers outside the US – including in Europe, South Korea, and India – may get the Exynos 2700 rather than the Snapdragon. Samsung is manufacturing the Exynos 2700 on a 2nm process and targeting a strong balance of speed and efficiency, but public perception tends to favor Snapdragon regardless of benchmark results. US buyers get the Pro chip; almost everyone else gets Exynos.
Should I wait for the Galaxy S27 Ultra?
- You should wait for the Galaxy S27 Ultra if you want the most streamlined Android experience that doesn't sacrifice power. It's also a great entry point if you're coming from iOS, since One UI focuses heavily on overall user experience, much like iOS does. The combination of a 16MP selfie camera upgrade – the first in four years – a revamped main sensor with possible variable aperture, a battery bump beyond 5,000mAh for the first time since 2019, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro makes this a more meaningful generational step than the S26 Ultra was over the S25 Ultra.
- You should not wait for the Galaxy S27 Ultra if you already own a strong 2025 or 2026 flagship, or if you're specifically after a compact phone – the Ultra is staying large at 6.9 inches. If the S27 Pro materializes and you're outside the US, also be aware you may be getting an Exynos chip rather than Snapdragon, which may be a dealbreaker for some buyers.
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