Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro and Ultra May Share a New iPhone-Style Camera Design
Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra may be headed for one of its most significant design changes in years. Newly leaked CAD-based renders suggest that the company could abandon its familiar individual-camera-ring approach in favour of a large rear camera plateau, while also reshaping the hardware layout of its next Ultra flagship.
The early images initially created speculation that Samsung might offer the Galaxy S27 Ultra in two sizes. However, a follow-up claim from another prominent leaker suggests that the smaller design is not a compact Ultra model, but the rumoured Galaxy S27 Pro.
Either way, the alleged designs point to a wider visual change for Samsung’s 2027 flagship family.
Two sizes, or two different Galaxy models?
The CAD renders were shared by leaker Sonny Dickson and appear to show two phones with broadly similar designs but slightly different dimensions. The placement of the side buttons also differs between the two, prompting early speculation that Samsung could follow Apple’s strategy and launch the Ultra in more than one size.
That theory has since been challenged by Ice Universe, who claims that the smaller model is actually the Galaxy S27 Pro. According to the leaker, both the S27 Pro and S27 Ultra will adopt the same new rear camera design.
If accurate, Samsung would use the redesign to create a clearer family identity across its higher-end models, rather than splitting the Ultra into compact and large versions. The final product lineup remains unconfirmed, however, and Samsung could still change names, hardware dimensions or the overall positioning of the S27 range before launch.
A new rear camera plateau
The most noticeable part of the leak is the proposed camera arrangement. Instead of placing camera lenses in individually separated rings along the rear panel, Samsung may use a wider raised camera plateau.
The new module appears to group the rear sensors into a single, more pronounced hardware section. It is a major departure from Samsung’s current design language, which has relied on vertical lens placement and separate rings for several flagship generations.
The similarity to the iPhone 17 Pro’s camera island has already drawn attention. If Samsung adopts the design, comparisons with Apple will be inevitable, especially because the company has spent years differentiating its Ultra models through a more minimalist camera layout.
However, there may be practical reasons for the change. A larger unified camera module could make it easier to accommodate bigger sensors, improve internal camera alignment and free up space elsewhere inside the device.
Samsung could retire its 3x telephoto camera
The leaked design is also fuelling expectations of a more substantial camera hardware upgrade. Samsung’s current 3x telephoto camera, reportedly based on a small 1/3.94-inch 10MP sensor, may be removed from the next Ultra model.
Eliminating that dedicated lens could give Samsung more internal room for other components, including a larger battery, improved cooling hardware or integrated magnets around a Qi2 wireless charging coil.
Rather than relying on a separate lower-resolution 3x camera, Samsung could reportedly shift to a more capable 200MP primary sensor that handles both standard photography and intermediate zoom levels between 3x and 5x.
Earlier reports have suggested that Samsung may replace its ageing ISOCELL HP2 main sensor, which has been used for several years, with a newer 200MP ISOCELL HPC sensor. Such a change could improve image quality, cropping flexibility and zoom performance, although the final camera configuration remains unclear.
Qi2 magnets could be part of the redesign
The possible removal of one camera module may have another benefit: additional internal space for Qi2 magnetic charging. Samsung has supported wireless charging for years, but users often need specially designed cases to use magnetic accessories securely.
Built-in Qi2 magnets could make the Galaxy S27 Ultra more compatible with magnetic chargers, wallets, car mounts, stands and other accessories without requiring a magnet-equipped case.
Nothing has been confirmed, but the idea fits with earlier reports suggesting Samsung is considering an integrated magnetic ring for its future flagship phones.
A major change for Samsung’s 2027 flagships
The Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to launch in early 2027, potentially alongside the Galaxy S27, Galaxy S27 Plus and Galaxy S27 Pro. Samsung has not acknowledged the new camera design, the possible S27 Pro model or changes to its telephoto hardware.
For now, the CAD images offer only a preliminary glimpse at what Samsung may be exploring. CAD-based leaks are often useful for revealing physical dimensions, button placement and camera placement, but they do not confirm final materials, specifications or the software experience.
Still, the direction appears clear. Samsung may be preparing a major rethink of the Galaxy Ultra design, one that could combine a more prominent rear camera module with larger imaging hardware, improved battery capacity and potentially native Qi2 magnetic charging support.
Expected Galaxy S27 series changes
What to watch next
The most important question is whether Samsung can make the camera redesign feel purposeful rather than merely different. A wider camera plateau may look more like Apple’s design, but it could be justified if it enables a better primary sensor, more flexible zoom, larger battery capacity and native magnetic accessories.
The potential removal of the 3x telephoto camera is also worth watching. It may sound like a downgrade at first, but a larger and more advanced main sensor could deliver better image quality through digital cropping and computational photography at shorter zoom ranges.
Samsung still has months to finalise its 2027 flagship strategy, and more leaks are likely before the official announcement. Until then, the S27 Ultra’s new camera design, the alleged S27 Pro and the possible Qi2 implementation remain intriguing but unconfirmed.
