Galaxy S27 Ultra Camera May Not Be the Big Upgrade We Hoped For
SamsungSaturday, 29 November 2025 at 00:18
There has been a lot of talk that the Galaxy S27 Ultra would finally move past its current main camera. Since the S23 Ultra, Samsung has used a familiar 1/1.3-inch, 200-megapixel sensor. The most exciting rumor was that Samsung might use Sony's new LYT-901—a much bigger 1/1.12-inch, 200 MP sensor. That Sony chip is currently seen as the next major step in Android phone photography.
Sticking with the Same Size
But a well-known tipster, Ice Universe, says Samsung won’t use the Sony sensor. That makes sense, as Samsung usually makes its own sensors.
However, the real disappointing news is his prediction that the S27 Ultra’s sensor size will not change. In fact, Samsung has been making its 200MP sensors smaller with almost every new version:
| Sensor | Size |
| ISOCELL HP1 (Older) | 1/1.22″ |
| ISOCELL HP2 (Current) | 1/1.3″ |
| ISOCELL HP3/HPX/HP9 (Newer/Smaller) | 1/1.4″ |
It is highly unlikely we will see a large, near-1-inch ISOCELL sensor from Samsung soon.
Why Sensor Size Matters
Why should you care about this small change in size? The physics are simple: a smaller sensor collects less light. Smaller pixels create a weaker signal. This usually means poorer image quality overall.
This fact lines up with what we see in real-world photo tests. Chinese phones, like the vivo X300 Pro and Oppo Find X9 Pro, often beat the Galaxy S25 Ultra in image quality. They use those bigger sensors and tune their software very well for them.
The takeaway? Samsung's top 2027 phone might again rely on a slightly "updated" version of the 1/1.3-inch ISOCELL sensor.
Software Can't Fix Everything
Over the past few years, Samsung has leaned hard on software processing to improve photos. They try to squeeze better results from hardware that has mostly stayed the same.
But while Samsung relies on software, its rivals are moving forward. They are putting bigger sensors into their phones.
The latest leak suggests the next few Ultra phones will not deliver the huge camera jump that many fans want. That’s a shame, especially when the rest of the industry keeps moving ahead with better hardware.
It seems Samsung is prioritizing slim design and cost over a major, physics-based upgrade. Fans will need to keep hoping that software processing can still work miracles for the Galaxy S27 Ultra camera.
Key Takeaways
- Disappointment: The Galaxy S27 Ultra is rumored to not receive a larger main camera sensor in 2027.
- Current Sensor: It is expected to stick with a version of the 1/1.3-inch 200MP ISOCELL sensor, used since the S23 Ultra.
- Rival Sensor: Samsung reportedly plans to skip using Sony's new, larger 1/1.12-inch LYT-901 sensor.
- The Problem: Smaller sensors capture less light, which leads to poorer image quality compared to rivals with bigger sensors.
- Samsung's Strategy: The company will likely keep relying on software and processing to make up for the outdated hardware.
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