Against the backdrop of Samsung's years-long failure to refresh the hardware and look of its flagship smartphone, the Korean tech giant is preparing one of the most extensive redesigns in the history of the Galaxy S27 lineup. According to the reputable leaker Ice Universe, the top-tier Galaxy S27 Ultra will radically change the look of its rear panel: instead of the familiar separate metal rings around each lens, the device will feature a massive island-style plateau, visually echoing the solution implemented in the iPhone 17 Pro. The shift to a single raised module, analysts say, is driven by the need to fit larger batteries inside and to embed a magnetic ring for Qi2 wireless charging — a feature Samsung has not yet offered in its flagships.

Two Body Sizes: Ultra or Pro?

Besides the change in the camera block's shape, the blueprints published by leaker Sonny Dickson point to the possibility of releasing the Galaxy S27 Ultra in two body sizes at once. At present, experts have not reached a consensus: it could be two versions of the Ultra (for example, Ultra and Ultra Mini), or the more compact variant could turn out to be a separate Galaxy S27 Pro model. No official statements from Samsung on this matter have been confirmed yet, and the final lineup configuration will become known closer to the announcement.

What Will Change in the Camera System

The key technical innovation will be the abandonment of the outdated 10-megapixel 3x telephoto lens and the old ISOCELL HP2 main sensor. In their place, Samsung plans to introduce a single 200-megapixel ISOCELL HPC module, which will handle both primary shots and high-quality optical/hybrid zoom in the 3x to 5x range. This solution will simplify the camera's construction, reduce the number of separate lenses, and, as a result, free up space inside the body for the battery and wireless charging system. On the blueprints, a large circular ring responsible for the Qi2 wireless charging coil is also visible beneath the camera modules.

The Rest of the Lineup Keeps the Familiar Design

At the same time, no radical external changes are planned for the more affordable models in the lineup. Likely CAD renders of the Galaxy S27, Galaxy S27+, and Galaxy S27 Pro, published on Weibo, show a traditional vertical block with three separate cameras, stylistically close to the current Galaxy S26 series models. Thus, Samsung is betting on visual differentiation of the top-tier Ultra model specifically, while keeping the rest of the lineup in a recognizable family design.

Contradictory Data

The main inconsistency in the available information concerns the interpretation of the two body sizes. On the one hand, Sonny Dickson's blueprints directly point to two variants of the Galaxy S27 Ultra. On the other hand, some experts suggest that the more compact body may not be a "mini version" of the Ultra, but rather a standalone Galaxy S27 Pro model that formally does not belong to the Ultra lineup. Until Samsung presents an official nomenclature, both versions remain equally plausible. Additional uncertainty is added by the question of whether the island camera plateau will be implemented in an identical form on both sizes, or whether the compact version will receive a simplified variant of the module.

Announcement Timing and Context

The official unveiling of the Galaxy S27 lineup is expected in early 2027, in line with Samsung's traditional flagship refresh cycle. For the company, the Ultra redesign becomes a response to criticism of its years-long conservative approach to the flagship's appearance and hardware: while competitors actively experimented with form factors and camera systems, Samsung kept the same layout since 2022. The move to an island plateau and the integration of Qi2 are, in essence, an attempt to catch up with market standards already set by Apple and Google.