Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra vs S26 Ultra: Expected Changes

Build and design — what is changing, what is not

The S26 Ultra is a proven slab at 6.9 inches, with a built-in S Pen, Galaxy AI and DeX, and IP68 rating. The S27 Ultra is leaked to keep a similar 6.9-inch front design — screen protectors are tipped as nearly identical to the S26 Ultra's — but with a raised camera island, or Camera Plateau, replacing the floating camera rings, and slimmer bezels at 1.21–1.28mm versus the S26 Ultra's 1.32mm in one leak. Colours tipped are Black, Blue, Light Pink and White, plus a special Violet option.

If you want a proven design today, the S26 Ultra wins. If you want a new camera island and slimmer bezels, the S27 Ultra is a wait-and-see leak. For most buyers, the S26 Ultra is the safer choice until Samsung announces the S27 Ultra.

Display and benchmarks — leaked upgrades only

The S26 Ultra offers a 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 120Hz, with up to 2,600 nits and a Privacy Display that limits side viewing. The S27 Ultra is leaked to offer a 6.9-inch display at 1440 x 3120, with a next-generation M16 OLED panel and a second-generation Privacy Display, which should help brightness and power efficiency. For everyday use, both displays are flagship-grade on paper, with the S27 Ultra winning on panel generation only if the leak is confirmed.

On benchmarks, the S26 Ultra uses Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, while the S27 Ultra is leaked to use Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro for Galaxy, built on 2nm. A separate leak says Samsung may consider Exynos 2700 if heating issues in testing persist — a contingency, not a confirmed chip. No controlled side-by-side benchmark between these two phones exists, so no speed winner is claimed beyond the generational gap.

Cameras and video — the biggest leaked change

The S26 Ultra offers a quad camera: 200MP main at f/1.4 and 1/1.3-inch, a 50MP ultrawide, a 50MP 5x telephoto and a 10MP 3x telephoto, plus a 12MP front camera. The S27 Ultra is leaked to offer a triple camera: 200MP ISOCELL HP6 main, a 50MP ultrawide and a 50MP 5x telephoto, plus a 16MP selfie camera, with the 10MP 3x telephoto tipped to be dropped — which would make it the first Ultra since 2021 without four rear cameras. Some leaks still mention a quad setup, so this is one area to treat carefully until certification images show up.

No controlled side-by-side camera test between these two phones exists, so no photo winner is claimed beyond the leaked hardware gap. If you shoot at 3x often, the S26 Ultra's dedicated 3x telephoto is stronger on paper. If you shoot at 5x and want a newer main sensor, the S27 Ultra is stronger on paper only if the leak is confirmed. For selfies, the S27 Ultra's leaked 16MP front camera is newer on paper.

Battery, software and price — leaked, not announced

Battery is where the S27 Ultra is leaked to win, with a rated 5,534mAh battery in a listing, typically around 5,700mAh, using silicon-carbon cell technology tipped to fit more capacity without a thicker body, versus the S26 Ultra's 5,000mAh. Charging is leaked as unchanged at 60W wired and 25W wireless, per a 3C certification listing. For most users, the S27 Ultra will last longer on paper if the leak is confirmed, while the S26 Ultra's battery is proven in reviews.

Software is leaked as One UI 9.5 on Android 17 with 7 years of OS upgrades for the S27 Ultra, while the S26 Ultra runs One UI 8.5 on Android 16, with security updates listed until 28 February 2033 in one spec source. In the US and Europe, the S26 Ultra is on sale today from $1,399.99 in the US and €1,550 in Europe, while the S27 Ultra has no announced price — a price hike is tipped, but no figure is confirmed.

Verdict

Buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want a flagship in the US from $1,399.99 or in Europe from €1,550 today. Wait for the Galaxy S27 Ultra if you want its leaked 5,700mAh battery, M16 display and triple-camera setup, and check Samsung's announcement in early 2027. For most US and Europe buyers, the S26 Ultra is the only choice today — the S27 Ultra is a leak-based wait-and-see.