Samsung is reportedly considering a significant camera change for its upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra, potentially replacing the 5x periscope telephoto with a 4x telephoto that features a larger sensor.
According to a recent leak, the company is evaluating a 4x telephoto sensor with a 50MP resolution and a 1/1.9-inch size, which is larger than the current 5x periscope's 1/2.52-inch sensor.
This larger sensor could lead to less noise and fewer artifacts in images, along with better overall image quality and easier framing for portraits.
The move would not be unprecedented, as the original Galaxy S Ultra featured a 4x, 48MP telephoto with a similar 1/2.0-inch sensor, a major upgrade over the S10+'s 12MP 2x telephoto.
However, with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, Samsung shifted to a smaller 10MP dual-telephoto setup.
Now, the S27 Ultra could return to a single telephoto camera with 4x optical zoom.
Decision still pending
The tipster suggests Samsung is weighing the upgrade against its bill of materials and real-world benefits.
If the difference isn't significant enough to justify R&D costs, the company may stick with the current 5x setup.
There are reportedly five S27 Ultra prototypes being evaluated, indicating the camera configuration is not yet finalized.
