Samsung may finally be preparing a major shakeup for its Galaxy S series. According to a new leak, the company is reportedly testing a new Galaxy S27 Pro model that could sit between the regular Galaxy S27 and the Galaxy S27 Ultra. More interestingly, the phone may end up offering a dramatically different camera experience from the Ultra itself.
The biggest change surrounds Samsung’s telephoto camera strategy – an area where Galaxy Ultra phones have faced criticism for years.
Samsung may finally kill off its much-criticized camera lens
According to the latest rumours, the Galaxy S27 Pro and Galaxy S27 Ultra are expected to share a 200MP main camera and an ultrawide sensor. The biggest difference will come from the zoom camera setup. The Galaxy S27 Pro is said to feature a new 50MP ALoP telephoto sensor with 3.5x optical zoom, while the Galaxy S27 Ultra may use a different 50MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom.
More importantly, Samsung is reportedly planning to remove the long-criticized 3x telephoto lens from the Ultra model altogether. That lens has been one of the weak points of recent Galaxy Ultra phones, often delivering inconsistent image quality compared to Samsung’s powerful 5x zoom hardware and high-resolution primary camera.
If the rumors are accurate, Samsung could instead rely more on sensor cutouts from its 200MP main camera at medium zoom levels. That would simplify the camera system while improving overall image consistency.
Ironically, the Galaxy S27 Pro’s 3.5x zoom setup may provide a more balanced and effective photography experience for most users. Mid-range zoom levels are often more useful for portraits, food photography, pets, and everyday photography than extreme long-range zooms.
Samsung may finally be fixing their “Middle Child” problem.
The leak also suggests that Samsung is rethinking the design of its own flagship. For years, the Galaxy S Ultra models have received almost all of Samsung’s premium hardware, while the standard and Plus models have often felt like vulnerable alternatives with few standout features. That left many consumers stuck between choosing a compact phone or getting a fully featured Ultra. The Galaxy S27 Pro may finally fix that gap.
Reports suggest that Samsung wants the Pro model to act as a true premium flagship instead of the slightly upgraded Plus. The main compromise compared to the Ultra may be the absence of the S Pen and some differences in the zoom range.
That strategy mirrors what companies like Apple are doing with the iPhone Pro lineup, where users can choose between two premium flagships instead of one obvious choice.
Why is this important?
If Samsung follows through on these changes, the Galaxy S27 series could be one of the company’s biggest redesigns in years. The removal of the 3x telephoto camera alone will address one of the longest-running complaints surrounding the Galaxy Ultra’s cameras. Meanwhile, the more premium Galaxy S27 Pro can finally give users a high-end Samsung phone without forcing them into an Ultra form factor.
At the same time, it is important to remember that this is still an early leak. Samsung is reportedly testing multiple prototypes internally, meaning specifications and camera setups could change before launch. Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S27 lineup in early 2027. Until then, more leaks surrounding the camera hardware, chipset, battery upgrades, and final product design are likely to emerge in the coming months.
For now, though, the Galaxy S27 Pro is already shaping up to be one of Samsung’s most interesting tests in years — and perhaps the phone that finally fixes the company’s mid-range problem.
