Galaxy S27 buyers may need to prepare for a major disappointment as Samsung’s plans leak

We’re finally starting to hear more about the Galaxy S27 lineup, but unfortunately, it’s not all good news. While the Galaxy S27 Ultra and the Galaxy S27 Pro may get some very welcomed improvements, the base model could end up a disappointment.

The base Galaxy S27 may not have any significant upgrades

Samsung isn’t working on any meaningful upgrades for the base version of the Galaxy S27. Korean leaker Lanzuk says in a Naver post (machine-translated source) that the company won’t introduce significant changes to the display or the rear cameras of the upcoming device when compared to the Galaxy S26.

This claim is based on the lack of notable development activity in the supply chain. If there were plans for new components, they should’ve made a splash across component manufacturers.

This could explain other rumors

This move could also be the reason that Samsung was reportedly considering using displays from the Chinese company BOE for the Galaxy S27. The leaker suggests that the largely unchanged display could be sourced from a third-party supplier because it won’t be necessary for Samsung Display to develop a brand-new panel.

However, a more recent report claimed that Samsung is backing away from the idea. This move wasn’t related to concerns about the quality of BOE’s displays. Instead, the Korean company could prefer to boost the profitability of its domestic supply ecosystem.

Either way, the lack of major upgrades won’t be anything new for Samsung’s flagship. Last year’s Galaxy S26 brought a slightly larger display than the vanilla Galaxy S25, but not to the camera system. 

In fact, the camera was the same on the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S23, and Galaxy S22. If this rumor is true, the S27 will be the sixth generation in a row with largely the same camera specs. 

Still, in his in-depth review of the Galaxy S26, my colleague Victor found out that the photos didn’t look the same as on the S25. Samsung tinkered with the color science and improved the exposure both in low and bright light conditions.

Could this be a cost-cutting move?

One thing that anyone who considers buying a Galaxy S27 would appreciate is getting it at a good price. With the constant news of consumer tech getting pricier, Samsung could offset some of the production costs by sticking to last year’s tech.

That’s not a sustainable move over the long term, but it could help it against the iPhone 18. Apple is expected to delay its base model until 2027, and Tim Cook has already confirmed there’ll be price hikes.

Making the Ultra look even better

I won’t be surprised if this rumor turns out to be true, even though it should be taken with a grain of salt. We’re at least six months from the launch of this device, and Samsung’s plans may change. 

However, the company will certainly do its best to make the Galaxy S27 Ultra feel like the best option for anyone who wants a new phone next year. Making the vanilla model less attractive may not feel like the smartest way to achieve that goal, but, who knows, it may actually work.

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