The debate over the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra's camera setup has a new voice. According to leaker Roland Quandt, Samsung's next flagship will stick with a 50MP telephoto camera offering 5x optical zoom, paired with a Sony sensor. That claim appears to settle a recent back-and-forth about whether the phone would move to a shorter 4x zoom lens.

What the latest leak says about the telephoto

In late August, a rumor suggested Samsung planned to fit the S27 Ultra with a new 4x optical zoom telephoto camera built around a 1/1.9-inch sensor. Earlier this week, a separate source pushed back hard, insisting the device would carry over the same 5x optical zoom telephoto found in its predecessor.

Quandt, generally regarded as a reliable source, has now weighed in on the disagreement. His information points to a 50MP 5x optical zoom telephoto camera with a Sony sensor. Because it is a 5x rather than a 4x lens, the detail strongly implies the S27 Ultra will reuse the same telephoto module seen on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Ultrawide and selfie cameras

The rest of Quandt's rundown suggests a mix of continuity and change. He says the ultrawide camera will keep its 50MP resolution, matching the S26 Ultra.

The bigger shift is up front. The leak points to a 16MP selfie camera with autofocus, an upgrade from the 12MP front camera on the current model. Autofocus on the selfie shooter can help keep faces sharp across a wider range of distances, which matters for group shots and vlogging-style content.

Display and chipset expectations

Beyond the cameras, the Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to adopt Samsung's recently unveiled M16 OLED panel. On the performance side, at least some markets are tipped to receive the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chipset, though there have also been rumors that an Exynos 2700 could power the phone in certain regions.

Why it matters

If the leak holds up, buyers hoping for a dramatically overhauled camera system on the S27 Ultra may be disappointed, as the headline telephoto and ultrawide specs would carry over largely unchanged. The most notable hardware improvement would be the front camera, along with the newer display panel and updated silicon.

As with all pre-launch reports, these details remain unconfirmed and could change before Samsung officially reveals the device. Camera specifications in particular have been a moving target in the run-up to the S27 Ultra, so the picture may shift again as the launch draws closer.