Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro vs Galaxy S27 Ultra: Who should wait for which phone

Samsung is likely giving the Galaxy S27 Pro a similar look to the Galaxy S27 Ultra, minus the S Pen. The CAD renders for the two phones show identical design with raised camera plateau on the back. Just that the Pro has a smaller footprint than the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

The two phones could also share much of their camera hardware. Both are tipped to feature Samsung’s new 200MP ISOCELL HP6 main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide camera and a 16MP selfie camera. They are also expected to use the newer M16 OLED panel. Meanwhile, all four Galaxy S27 models are reportedly getting Privacy Display, which is currently exclusive to the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

The two phones may get same charging speed too. China’s 3C certification listings suggest the same 60W wired charging on both the Pro and Ultra. Wireless and reverse wireless charging are also expected across the S27 series, although Samsung is unlikely to include a charger in the box.

Size and S Pen

The Galaxy S27 Pro could be the better fit if you want a high-end Samsung phone without the size of an Ultra. According to reports, the device will feature 6.47 inches display, while the Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to remain close to the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s dimensions. CAD renders suggest it will measure around 163.76 x 78.25 x 7.97mm.

The S Pen is another major difference. Samsung is expected to retain the stylus on the Galaxy S27 Ultra, while the Galaxy S27 Pro reportedly won’t support it. If you regularly use the pen for notes, sketches or other tasks, that alone could make the Ultra the better choice.

Zoom cameras

The biggest uncertainty so far is the telephoto setup, with different reports describing different hardware for both phones.

According to Korean outlet ETNews, the Galaxy S27 Pro will get a 12MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The Galaxy S27 Ultra, meanwhile, could lose its dedicated 3x camera and rely on cropping from its main sensor for mid-range zoom.

That isn’t the only version of the story. An earlier report suggested the Galaxy S27 Pro could use a 50MP telephoto camera with roughly 3.5x zoom, potentially giving it an advantage over the Ultra at the zoom levels people commonly use.

The Ultra’s long-range camera is still up in the air, too. A more recent leak says Samsung is testing a 50MP 4x telephoto camera with a 1/1.9-inch sensor to replace the current 5x periscope setup. Samsung reportedly has five prototypes under evaluation, and the existing 5x camera could stay if the new hardware doesn’t justify its cost.

For now, it’s too early to say which phone will have the better zoom camera. The final hardware matters more than the megapixel counts or zoom figures in these early reports.

The bigger the size of the S27 Ultra means it will also have a bigger battery. Based on certification listings, the Galaxy S27 Pro will have a 5,200mAh battery while the Ultra could get a 5,700mAh unit. The figures corroborate earlier battery leaks that raised questions about how Samsung would distinguish the two models.

The chipset situation could also matter, depending on where you buy the phone. The Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 for Galaxy. One report claims the Galaxy S27 Pro will get a Snapdragon chip in select regions and Samsung’s Exynos 2700 in others.

A separate leak suggests the Pro may be available with 1TB of storage but only 12GB of RAM in that configuration. This would leave it behind the Galaxy S27 Ultra’s top configuration, though the final memory options haven’t been confirmed.

As for the price, the Galaxy S27 Pro could launch at $1,299 in the US and the Galaxy S27 Ultra at $1,399. The Ultra could cost as much as $1,499 in some markets, reportedly. For comparison though, the Galaxy S26 Ultra currently sits at around $1,300.

The Galaxy S27 Pro makes the most sense if you want the Ultra’s general design, main camera and display in a smaller phone, but don’t need an S Pen. Samsung’s current lineup doesn’t have a model between the Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra that quite fits that description, so the Pro could fill that gap if the leaks prove accurate.

The reported $100 price difference in the US could be another reason to choose it. The camera hardware may also work in its favor, depending on which leak turns out to be correct. If the Pro gets a dedicated telephoto camera while the Ultra loses its 3x lens, it could be a better option for portraits and mid-range zoom shots.

The trade-offs are a smaller battery and potentially less RAM in the highest storage configuration. You’ll also need to consider the possibility of getting an Exynos chip instead of Snapdragon, depending on your region.

The Ultra is the safer choice if you use the S Pen, want the largest battery in the lineup or prefer a Snapdragon chip regardless of where you buy the phone. It’s also the model to watch if long-range photography is important to you, although Samsung’s final telephoto setup remains uncertain.

If you rely heavily on zoom between 3x and 5x, it’s worth waiting for confirmed camera specifications before deciding. Samsung could change the Ultra’s telephoto hardware, and that decision may have a bigger effect on your everyday photos than some of the other rumored upgrades.

If you need a new phone now, there’s little reason to plan around a January launch that Samsung hasn’t confirmed. The early certifications make that timing possible, but they don’t guarantee it.

Galaxy S26 Ultra owners may also have less reason to wait than they initially think. The S27 Ultra’s rumored 60W charging isn’t an upgrade over the current model, and the proposed camera redesign could involve losing a dedicated lens. The new look has already drawn criticism from people who’ve seen the renders.

Based on the current leaks, a faster chip and a larger battery appear to be the clearest potential gains. Whether those changes are enough to justify upgrading will depend on the final specifications and pricing.

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