I won't be surprised if the "ugly" Galaxy S27 Ultra is a hit like the "ugly" iPhone 17 Pro

The Galaxy S27 Ultra is around the corner, just not this one. Once the last four pages of your 2026 calendar fly out of the window, it's Samsung time once again.

While I'm curious whether the Korean giant will introduce four Galaxy S27 models this time around—with the newcomer being a mysterious Galaxy S27 Pro instead of the dreaded Galaxy S25 Edge experiment—I'm preoccupied with the Ultra.

All Galaxy S Ultra units have had pretty remarkable main (wide) cameras. In the right hands, these phones can produce photo miracles, but recent Ultras have been a bit sloppy when it comes to zoom or ultra-wide. These are the areas where expensive, exotic Chinese flagships like the $1,800+ Oppo Find X9 Ultra have been performing exceptionally well.

Things are set to change in 2027 with the Galaxy S27 Ultra, but right now, there's a mini drama developing in real time.

"Why so ugly?!"

A large chunk of users and techies are preoccupied with the aesthetics of the Galaxy S27 Ultra. Yes—again, that's a device that's not expected to materialize before January 2027. A lot can change. Both internally and externally.

But a super reputable leakster has just posted some alleged Galaxy S27 Ultra renders and all hell broke loose.

The thing in the images looks like this:



Yes, it does look like Samsung (or whoever drew this) is actually trying to mimic both Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and some obscure Far East company's design language.

The Galaxy S27 Ultra is so hot right now:

• Patience is running thin: the S27 Ultra's camera must be revolutionary, and fans know what they want
• Another Galaxy S27 Ultra surprise drops alongside new images
• Despite the redesign, the Galaxy S27 Ultra might not be that different after all

So what?

After I laughed (and laughed, and laughed), I went to sleep and then I got up—and gave it another look. Now I wasn't laughing, but I thought to myself, so what if it looks like this?

To me, the most important thing is what a device can do; looks are lower in the priority list. I'm not saying I don't pay attention to a phone's design, but what I'm saying is that I'd rather have a specs beast that looks like a mishmash than a limp, weak handset that's flashy on the outside.

And with the Galaxy S27 Ultra, we're promised several cool things.

Let it be true

Samsung could ditch the current four-camera setup and go with three rear shooters: a new 200 MP main camera, a 50 MP ultra-wide and a 50 MP 5x telephoto. The useless 10 MP 3x zoom might be gone. Amen!

The good news is that the main camera could move to a larger sensor, with rumors pointing to the 1/1.12-inch ISOCELL HPA, although another version of the sensor may end up being closer to 1/1.3 inches.

There's also talk of LOFIC technology, which could dramatically improve dynamic range by allowing the sensor to handle bright highlights and dark areas simultaneously without relying as heavily on multi-frame HDR.

Samsung is also rumored to upgrade the selfie camera to 16 MP, finally moving away from the 12 MP sensor it has used since the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

The rumored 50 MP ultra-wide would be a major upgrade and the 50 MP 5x telephoto could also receive a wider aperture. A variable aperture for the new 200 MP main camera was reportedly considered but may've been abandoned because of higher costs, added camera-module thickness and limited practical benefits. I don't mourn that.

If the rumors are accurate and if Samsung really is giving me a better main camera, a much better ultra-wide and a more capable 5x zoom while getting rid of the 3x camera, I'm not sure I should be complaining about the way the cameras are positioned.

The iPhone 17 Pro "fiasco"

Remember how in the late summer of 2025, when we were carpet bombarded with a ton of iPhone 17 Pro renders? The situation was similar to today's.

Everyone was apparently disgusted and appalled by the images and, more specifically, by the iPhone 17 Pro's camera plateau. Its raised, rectangular camera island was causing nightmares and cold sweats among the more sensitive among us.

At first, I wasn't the plateau's biggest fan, either. But guess what—that bothered neither Apple nor the millions of people who went and bought themselves a 17 Pro unit.

Furthermore, the iPhone 17 Pro turned out to be so "ugly" that in return, it became a total hit and it's one of Cupertino's biggest company wins in recent history.

So, yeah, don't be surprised if the "ugly" Galaxy S27 Ultra turns out to be a hit, too.

There are two reasons for that. We, the people, adapt easily and what seemed odd yesterday is accepted—and even embraced—today.

Secondly, even if the S27 Ultra turns out to be truly hideous on the outside, that's no biggie as well. That's because we've completely lost our sense of aesthetics. Just take a look at modern architecture, modern art or a random pop music video. It'll be just another freak in a freak world.

Trade in your old phone for cash at ecoATM!

Recycle your used phone and get instant cash. Find out how at ecoATM!

Check at ecoATM