Galaxy S27 Ultra Rumored to Drop 3x Telephoto, Adopt Qi2

Get the Tech newsletter
Daily tech — startups, AI labs, chips, the launches that shape the next decade. Free.
- Samsung is rumored to remove the subpar 3x telephoto camera from the Galaxy S27 Ultra, a module that has drawn criticism on multiple Ultra generations, with source yeux1122 noting the 5x periscope already delivers better image quality and stability.
- Samsung will reportedly use the freed internal space to push the Galaxy S27 Ultra's battery past the 5,000mAh ceiling, though the rumor stops short of confirming a switch to silicon-carbon chemistry used by Chinese rivals.
- Samsung is also said to give the Galaxy S27 Ultra a camera bar design, which would free the device to support Qi2 MagSafe-style wireless charging and the wider ecosystem of compatible accessories.
- Samsung is planning a new Galaxy S27 Pro model to address the feature disparity with the Galaxy S27+, with the Pro reportedly sharing nearly the same camera configuration as the outgoing Galaxy S26 Ultra.
- Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, expected in late 2026, are framed as the competitive catalyst pushing Samsung to overhaul long-standing Ultra hardware to defend premium flagship share.
Why it matters: The three changes target the two biggest Ultra complaints — mediocre telephoto optics and battery capacity stuck at 5,000mAh — that Samsung has refused to touch for multiple generations, while the Qi2 camera bar finally closes a charging-accessory gap that has pushed buyers toward MagSafe-compatible iPhones. With the iPhone 18 Pro lineup arriving in late 2026, Samsung's willingness to rework long-standing hardware signals a defensive reset of the Ultra line ahead of the early 2027 launch window.


