Rumors are swirling that Samsung could make a major change to its next-next-generation flagship camera setup, and it may start by cutting one of the Galaxy Ultra’s most debated lenses. According to a new claim from well-known tipster Ice Universe, Samsung may remove the 3x telephoto camera from the Galaxy S27 Ultra, potentially marking the end of a component that’s long been criticized for falling behind competing Android flagships.
Right now, Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra is said to feature two telephoto cameras, including a 3x unit that many enthusiasts consider the weak link. The biggest complaint is simple: it hasn’t kept pace. While rivals have moved to higher-resolution telephoto sensors, Samsung’s 3x camera is still associated with a comparatively modest 10MP sensor, and critics argue that it doesn’t deliver the kind of detail and clarity you’d expect from a top-tier premium phone.
So why would Samsung remove it? The rumor points to two big motivations.
First, competitive pressure is heating up as Apple is expected to adopt variable aperture technology on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max and promote it as a major camera advantage. If that happens, Samsung may feel forced to respond with more meaningful camera upgrades rather than sticking with a telephoto setup that some consider outdated. The broader implication is that Samsung can’t afford to look stagnant on imaging, especially in a market where camera performance is one of the biggest reasons people upgrade.
Second, the 3x telephoto lens may simply be redundant in Samsung’s current approach. With a high-resolution 200MP main camera, Samsung can effectively crop into the primary sensor to simulate a 3x zoom shot. In theory, that cropped result can look very close to what the dedicated 10MP 3x telephoto produces. If Samsung believes the main sensor can cover that zoom range well enough, dropping the dedicated 3x camera could reduce hardware cost and complexity without dramatically hurting perceived photo quality.
The big unanswered question is what Samsung would put in its place, if anything. The rumor doesn’t confirm a replacement lens or sensor, and there’s no official indication yet of the final Galaxy S27 Ultra camera configuration. However, talk of variable aperture returning to Samsung’s top-end models has been circulating, and such a feature could become a headline upgrade if Samsung chooses to position it as a response to Apple’s upcoming iPhone camera strategy.
For now, none of this is confirmed, but the takeaway is clear: there’s growing pressure for Samsung to make real camera progress in its Ultra lineup. Whether that means removing the 3x telephoto camera, introducing variable aperture, upgrading sensors across the board, or rethinking zoom hardware entirely, fans and critics alike are watching closely to see if Samsung finally delivers a bigger leap in imaging.
