Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro could finally be the smaller 'Ultra' phone I’ve been waiting for — here’s how

One thing I’ve realized after years of testing Samsung’s top-of-the-line Ultra models is that they’re not afraid of being large. While they're consistently packed with killer hardware, their massive footprints often put me off — which is why I’m intrigued by rumors that the Galaxy S27 Pro could potentially be a smaller version of the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

There's a report out of South Korea that hints at this, suggesting Samsung is prepping four models for its Galaxy S27 lineup: the Galaxy S27, Galaxy S27 Plus, Galaxy S27 Pro, and Galaxy S27 Ultra. What’s particularly interesting is that the S27 Pro is reportedly a smaller version of the Ultra, but without the S Pen.

This detail is crucial because housing an S Pen requires much-valued internal space — real estate that is highly coveted in any best phone contender. By ditching the stylus, Samsung could pivot in two directions: it could pack in an even larger battery, or it could upgrade the camera hardware. So far, rumors suggest the Pro will inherit the 200MP main camera from the S27 Ultra, though it remains unknown if it will also gain the 50MP telephoto lens.

Why a Galaxy S27 Pro makes sense

Given reports that Samsung scrapped the Galaxy S26 Edge due to low sales of the S25 Edge, the company is clearly being prompted to rethink its strategy. It appears to be matching Apple’s current lineup with the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Because of this, it makes perfect sense for Samsung to position the Galaxy S27 Pro between the Plus and the Ultra.

Beyond the smaller form factor, the Galaxy S27 Pro is reportedly gaining the same Privacy Display technology that debuted on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Considering the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are practically identical aside from their size, I really hope the Galaxy S27 Pro and S27 Ultra share that same equivalence.

If I had to choose between making room for a larger battery or upgraded camera hardware, I’d prefer the latter — specifically, giving the Pro the same 50MP 5x telephoto shooter found on the Ultra. I’m not saying the Galaxy S27 Pro needs the Ultra’s full quadruple-camera setup, but it should at least feature that high-end zoom.

We still have a long way to go before the Galaxy S27 lineup arrives. One area I’m genuinely curious about is whether Samsung will finally adopt silicon-carbon battery tech. Honor, Oppo, and OnePlus are already seeing massive capacity gains using this technology. If the Galaxy S27 Pro truly drops the S Pen in favor of endurance, a high-capacity silicon-carbon battery would be the perfect way to power it.

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