Samsung’s camera strategy for the Galaxy S27 Ultra is starting to take shape and it’s not the news camera fans were hoping for. A new leak suggests the 2027-bound flagship won’t make the leap to Sony’s latest 200 MP sensor, despite early reports hinting at a major upgrade.
Galaxy S27 Ultra likely skipping Sony’s 200 MP LYT-901 sensor
According to Ice Universe, Samsung has no current plans to adopt Sony’s freshly unveiled LYT-901 for its next Ultra. That’s a letdown, considering the sensor’s 1/1.12-inch size and fresh image pipeline could have marked the biggest jump in Ultra camera hardware since the ISOCELL HP2 first arrived.
Instead, the Galaxy S27 Ultra appears locked into another round with a 1/1.3-inch sensor likely a revised version of the HP2 or something similar. For context, Samsung has been using 1/1.3-inch sensors on its flagships for years, even as rivals experiment with larger sensors and improved optics.
Samsung may offer the Galaxy S26 Ultra in Titanium Jetblack to all buyers no direct-only restriction this time.
Galaxy S27 Ultra decision fuels stagnation claims
A 1/1.3-inch sensor isn’t bad, it’s still capable of excellent results. But in the context of top-tier pricing and rising competition, this feels like a stall. Sony’s LYT-901 has the potential to push image quality higher across the board, especially in low light and dynamic range. Skipping it only adds fuel to the growing view that Samsung’s hardware is coasting while others move forward.
That perception isn’t new. Many longtime Samsung users feel the company has prioritized software tricks and AI sharpening over genuine sensor improvements in recent years.
What the Galaxy S27 Ultra camera may still offer
Even if Samsung’s sticking with a familiar sensor size, there’s still room to tweak elsewhere. The Galaxy S27 Ultra could see gains in image processing, periscope lens updates, or multi-frame HDR. But for users who wanted a true sensor leap, the Sony LYT-901 was the dream and now it’s probably dead.
Here’s what the rumor suggests so far:
- No Sony LYT-901 sensor for Galaxy S27 Ultra
- Samsung sticking with 1/1.3-inch camera size
- Likely another ISOCELL variant like HP2
- Minimal hardware change from S24–S26 Ultra
- Expected launch timeline: early 2027
It faces tough optics in more ways than one
Skipping a next-gen sensor doesn’t mean the Galaxy S27 Ultra won’t take great photos. But it does reinforce the sense that Samsung’s flagship formula has gone stale iterative changes in an era that’s demanding more. If hardware stagnation sticks around for 2027, Samsung may find itself outgunned by competitors who are actually willing to take the leap.
