Samsung needs to fix this one camera problem before the Galaxy S27 Ultra launches

If for a moment we pretend that there's not much else going on in the world, we can confidently say that the upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra has the potential to be a disaster.

It all comes down to the "How much bang am I getting for my buck?" question. The constant price hikes we're slapped with on an annual basis are bad enough, but when we factor in the fact that we rarely get real, substantial upgrades, the joy barometer drops down to subzero territory.

A month ago, Samsung raised prices for the Galaxy S26 family in the US and the $1,299 Galaxy S26 Ultra became $1,399. I don't know whether Samsung will dare to go higher with the Galaxy S27 Ultra. Yes, everything is ridiculously expensive these days (RAM chips in particular, concerning the mobile tech industry), but a $1,500 non-folding phone that:

a) Doesn't have a jaw-dropping camera;

… and …

b) Doesn't have a fast-charging battery over 6,000 mAh;

… would be a ridiculously bad deal. Still, I think a $1,399 price tag for the aforementioned scenario is equally bad. Since I mentioned the Galaxy S27 Ultra's cameras, I'll elaborate on what I mean by a "jaw-dropping" camera setup.

Going forward, you should know these are the alleged Galaxy S27 Ultra camera specs, per the latest credible rumor:

• Main: 200 MP, ISOCELL HP6 sensor (1/1.3-inch type)
• Ultra-wide: 50 MP, ISOCELL JN3 (~1/2.5-inch type) or Sony IMX855 sensor (1/2.55-inch type)
• Telephoto: 5x optical zoom, ISOCELL JN3 (~1/2.5-inch type) or Sony IMX855 (1/2.55-inch type)
• Selfie: 16 MP, Samsung S5K2P5 sensor

Two cool cameras

A flagship is as good as its camera setup is. Sure, there are some pretty cool features like Samsung's Privacy Display that separates the Ultra from the rest of the models, but what you're paying for when buying a flagship phone is its camera(s).

And, starting with the main and ultra-wide snappers on the Galaxy S27 Ultra—or the would-be snappers, that is—I'm happy about both of them.

Samsung's main cameras are producing fine shots, although they can sometimes lift the shadows too harshly and make a given photo look too "smartphone-y". The ultra-wide on recent Galaxy S Ultra models is always reliable for some cool creative shots.

Two not-so-cool cameras

Almost all rumors so far claim the same thing: that the Galaxy S27 Ultra will end the dual telephoto camera strategy that we've been enjoying for years. Instead, the phone might get a single telephoto with a 5x optical zoom level. I'd personally go for 4x, but let's not be that granular about it, as 5x is also a versatile focal length.

But the sensor inside that alleged single telephoto camera is what gives me the goosebumps. Samsung is reportedly having in mind either the ISOCELL JN3 (~1/2.5-inch type) or the Sony IMX855 (1/2.55-inch type). Both are tiny and undeserving of a flagship.

What's more, where's the upgrade here?! The Galaxy S26 Ultra's 5x telephoto camera packs the Sony IMX854 sensor, which is a 1/2.52-inch type. In fact, the IMX854 is used in both the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

If the Galaxy S27 Ultra is stuck with the JN3 or the IMX855 (I don't expect massive gains over the IMX854), it would mean that, essentially, we've lost the secondary telephoto camera without receiving anything new on the primary telephoto itself.

Are you starting to feel ripped off already?

Furthermore, I want to touch briefly on the selfie snapper on the Galaxy S27 Ultra. I hope the leak got it wrong: a 16 MP selfie in 2027—on a $1,400 phone, mind you!—is plain mockery.

I'm not obsessed with a sensor's megapixel count, but Samsung surely won't go bankrupt if it went for a 50 MP sensor, right? Plus, it would look much better in marketing terms.

The battery is super important for photographers, too

We often dive deep into talking about sensors, apertures, lens coatings and software tricks of a phone's camera setup, but without power, it's all for nothing.

Photogs with dedicated cameras (mirrorless or DSLR, it's all the same) always carry a spare battery or two (or three) with them when they know they'll be taking lots of photos and videos. We, mobile photogs, though, are stuck with our phone's built-in battery and the battery life it offers. There's always the option to shoot with a power bank strapped to your phone—been there, done that—but that's something I can't recommend to anyone.

The Galaxy S27 Ultra has a great wrong to undo, for the Ultras in the last seven consecutive years have come with the same 5,000 mAh capacity on board. Back in 2020, that was awesome, but in 2027?! It would be embarrassing; Honor, for example, is testing a 15,000 mAh phone already. Obviously, Samsung won't go that higher, but, for crying out loud, give us at least a 6,000 mAh cell.

"Samsung definitely has a lot of catching up to do here", said our own Victor when he tested the Galaxy S26 Ultra's real-life battery numbers and he pointed out that the iPhone 17 Pro Max was doing way better in that regard.

The bigger fish is, of course, the telephoto situation. If you want to know what Samsung is depriving you of, let's take a look at this example:



The muddy photo, the one that lacks detail, contrast and clarity—and color, even—is taken with the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

The cool one is taken with the Vivo X500 Pro Max which uses the ISOCELL HP9 (1/1.4-inch type) for its telephoto.

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