Right now, buying a Galaxy S phone is fairly simple. You choose the regular model, pay more for the larger Plus, or go straight to the Ultra. The latest Galaxy S27 leaks suggest Samsung wants to add a fourth choice, and I am not yet convinced that another expensive phone will help anyone.
According to new details linked to Samsung’s next flagship series, the company is developing four devices under the internal names NM1, NM2, NM3 and NM4. They are expected to become the Galaxy S27, S27+, S27 Pro and S27 Ultra.
Samsung has not confirmed the names, cameras, batteries or prices. The phones are still months away, so some parts may change before launch. Still, the leaks are detailed enough to show what Samsung appears to be considering.
The Galaxy S27 Pro Could Be the Phone Samsung Fans Have Asked For
A smaller phone with Ultra-level cameras would make sense. Samsung customers have spent years choosing between a comfortable size and the company’s best hardware. The regular Galaxy S model fits more easily in a pocket, but the Ultra gets the stronger camera system and most of the attention.
The rumored Galaxy S27 Pro could sit between them. Reports describe it as a smaller premium model with better cameras than the S27 and S27+, but without the size and S Pen of the Ultra. That sounds useful, especially for people who want serious camera hardware without carrying Samsung’s largest phone.
The problem is the S27+. Samsung would then have two models between the standard phone and the Ultra, and it would need to give both a clear purpose. A larger screen alone may not be enough to justify the Plus if the smaller Pro has better cameras.
An additional summary of the leaked lineup also points to four separate phones. That makes the Pro look less like a passing rumor and more like a model Samsung is seriously testing.
The Best Camera Upgrades May Be Reserved for the Pro and Ultra
The leaked camera list gives us an early idea of how Samsung could separate the four phones.
| Model | Rumored camera changes |
|---|---|
| Galaxy S27 | New 50-megapixel main sensor, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera |
| Galaxy S27+ | New 50-megapixel main sensor, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera |
| Galaxy S27 Pro | 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, 50-megapixel 5x zoom camera, 16-megapixel selfie camera |
| Galaxy S27 Ultra | Possible 200-megapixel main camera, 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, 50-megapixel 5x zoom camera and new selfie camera |
The regular S27 and S27+ may receive a new main sensor, possibly supplied by Sony, but their wider camera setup could remain close to what Samsung already sells. The Pro and Ultra are expected to receive more obvious upgrades, including a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera and a new 16-megapixel front camera with autofocus.
I would rather see Samsung improve the quality of every camera than add more megapixels for the box. Better low-light photographs, cleaner moving subjects and more reliable skin tones would matter every day. A new sensor is only useful when the finished photographs look better without requiring several attempts.
Samsung also needs to be careful about placing too much distance between the models. A standard Galaxy S phone should not feel deliberately limited just to make the Pro easier to sell.
Silicon-Carbon Batteries Sound Exciting, but Do Not Expect a Huge Jump Yet
Another report claims Samsung is testing silicon-carbon batteries for the Galaxy S27 series. The technology can hold more energy in the same physical space, which could allow manufacturers to improve battery life without making phones much thicker.
That is the part of the leak I find most useful. Smartphone performance has been good enough for years, but battery anxiety has not disappeared. A phone that lasts noticeably longer would improve the experience more than another collection of AI editing tools.
The early information comes with a warning. Samsung may not use the battery technology across all four models because of cost, and the current tests reportedly do not show a dramatic increase in capacity. Anyone expecting a tiny Galaxy phone with a massive battery should lower those expectations for now.
Samsung also has to prove the technology will age well. More capacity at launch means little if the battery loses performance too quickly after regular charging.
A Fourth Model Gives Samsung Another Way to Raise the Price
The suspected S27 Pro may fill a genuine gap, but it also gives Samsung another step in the sales pitch. A shopper could enter a store planning to buy the regular S27, compare the cameras, and leave with the more expensive Pro.
That interpretation is not difficult to believe. Samsung has publicly said that its mobile division is focusing on flagship sales, a premium product mix and upselling. The company wants more customers buying its expensive devices because those phones produce stronger margins.
A closer look at Samsung’s possible retail strategy argues that the Pro could create a new price point between the S27+ and Ultra. Current U.S. prices already begin at $899.99 for the Galaxy S26, $1,099.99 for the S26+ and $1,299.99 for the S26 Ultra.
Samsung has not leaked a price for the S27 Pro. A position between the Plus and Ultra would likely place it above $1,100 unless the company changes the rest of the lineup. At that level, it would need to offer more than a better ultrawide camera and a different name.
Samsung Cannot Afford to Make the Regular S27 Feel Like the Cheap One
Four models can work when every phone has an obvious buyer. Apple has used several iPhone tiers because the differences in size, cameras and materials are easy to explain. Samsung will need the same clarity.
The S27 could be the compact flagship. The S27+ could offer the largest screen without Ultra pricing. The Pro could provide better cameras in a smaller body. The Ultra could remain the full package with the S Pen and the most capable zoom system.
Any overlap will make the range look crowded. Worse, Samsung could weaken the S27 and S27+ so the Pro appears more attractive. Buyers already paying flagship prices should not have to accept old camera parts because another model was added above them.
That concern feels more important after reports of red display patches on some Galaxy S26 Ultra phones. Before Samsung creates another premium tier, it needs to make sure the expensive models already in stores meet the standard their prices suggest.
Should You Wait for the Galaxy S27?
I would not delay a necessary phone purchase because of these leaks. Samsung has not announced the lineup, and the final models are not expected until 2027.
Owners of a Galaxy S24, S25 or S26 should have even less reason to rush. The rumored changes are interesting, but nothing reported so far makes a recent phone suddenly obsolete.
The S27 Pro is the model worth watching. A smaller Samsung phone with high-end cameras could be excellent. It could also become another carefully placed upgrade that makes the regular Galaxy S27 look worse by comparison.
I want Samsung to prove that four phones give buyers more useful choices, not four different ways to spend more money. Until the company explains the lineup itself, that remains the biggest unanswered question.
