Samsung Electronics is set to feature a large camera island on the back of its next-generation flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S27 Ultra. This design bears a striking resemblance to Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro.
On Tuesday, renowned tech leaker Ice Universe shared computer-aided design (CAD) rendering images of a device believed to be the Galaxy S27 Ultra on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
The leaked images reveal that the Galaxy S27 Ultra will sport a horizontally elongated rectangular camera island on its rear. This prominent feature is expected to house three camera sensors.
This marks a departure from the Galaxy S26 series, which featured a quad-camera setup with three lenses arranged vertically and an additional telephoto lens positioned to the right.
The next-generation Galaxy S27 Ultra is likely to position a 200-megapixel main camera and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera on the left side of the camera island. Adjacent to these, a vertically elongated pill-shaped space will accommodate a 5x optical zoom telephoto camera alongside a flash.
The design also incorporates space for a magnetic ring in the middle section, reminiscent of Apple’s MagSafe technology. Unlike the Galaxy S26 series, which required separate compatible cases for magnetic functionality, the S27 Ultra will feature this magnetic ring as a standard feature.
Industry analysts have noted that this new design bears a strong resemblance to Apple’s iPhone Pro series, suggesting that Samsung may be shifting away from its original design language in favor of emulating its chief competitor.
Ice Universe went so far as to suggest that Samsung Electronics’ head of mobile experience (MX) design should brace for potentially the harshest criticism in Galaxy history.
It’s worth noting that this significant design overhaul is expected to be exclusive to the Galaxy S27 Ultra model, with other variants in the series likely to retain designs similar to their predecessors.
Adding to the intrigue, industry insiders are also speculating about a possible smaller version of the Galaxy S27 Ultra.
Tech tipster Sonny Dickson fueled this speculation by sharing two rendering images on X, claiming that the Galaxy S27 Ultra will be available in two sizes.
Some industry watchers posit that the smaller Galaxy S27 Ultra might actually be marketed as a new Galaxy S27 Pro model.
If these rumors prove accurate, Samsung would be expanding its flagship lineup from three models (Standard, Plus, Ultra) to four (Standard, Plus, Pro, Ultra). This restructuring would mirror Apple’s four-tier approach of Standard, Air, Pro, and Pro Max.
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S27 series in the first half of 2027, though exact launch dates remain unconfirmed.