Samsung may be preparing one of the biggest visual changes to its Galaxy Ultra lineup in years.
The Galaxy S27 Ultra is still months away from its expected early-2027 launch, but leaked sketches, renders and case designs are already pointing toward a dramatically different rear camera design. And there’s one obvious comparison people can’t stop making:
It looks a lot more like an iPhone.
But there’s more to this redesign than simply making the Galaxy S27 Ultra look different.
Samsung Could Finally Abandon Its Signature Camera Layout
For several generations, Samsung’s Ultra phones have used individually separated camera lenses on the rear.
That could change with the Galaxy S27 Ultra.
Leaked designs show a large raised camera plateau near the top of the rear panel, replacing the floating-lens appearance Samsung has used on recent Galaxy S models.
And yes, the resemblance to the camera design of Apple’s recent Pro iPhones is hard to ignore.
But calling it an outright iPhone copy may be too simplistic.
Why Everyone Is Saying “iPhone”
The leaked camera plateau has a large rectangular shape, with multiple camera openings integrated into the same raised section.
That’s visually much closer to Apple’s current approach than Samsung’s traditional design.
Several outlets have specifically compared the leaked S27 Ultra to the iPhone 17 Pro’s camera plateau.
However, Samsung isn’t the first company to use a horizontal or unified camera structure. Google has used a horizontal camera bar on Pixel phones, while Samsung itself used a horizontal camera arrangement on older Galaxy models such as the Galaxy S10.
So the “Samsung copied Apple” argument isn’t quite that simple.
There Could Be a Practical Reason Behind the Change
Here’s where the story gets more interesting.
The redesign may be connected to Qi2 magnetic accessories.
Samsung has historically required special cases to provide a magnetic attachment system comparable to Apple’s MagSafe ecosystem. Recent leaks suggest the Galaxy S27 Ultra could finally get built-in magnets, potentially allowing compatible magnetic chargers, wallets, stands and other accessories to attach directly to the phone.
Moving the camera hardware into a more consolidated area could leave more usable space on the back for the magnetic ring.
In other words, Samsung may have a functional reason for changing the design — not just an aesthetic one.
The Camera Setup Could Change Too
The redesign may come with another controversial decision.
Current leaks suggest Samsung could move from the familiar four-camera arrangement to a triple-camera setup, potentially dropping the 10MP 3x telephoto camera.
Another recent report claims Samsung could replace the existing 3x and 5x telephoto arrangement with a single 4x telephoto camera. That particular specification is still only a rumor, however.
If true, this could actually be a bigger change for photographers than the camera island itself.
The S Pen Isn’t Going Away — At Least Not Yet
The Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to remain Samsung’s top-tier Ultra model, and current reports continue to distinguish it from a possible Galaxy S27 Pro.
The S Pen remains an important differentiator for the Ultra, although the exact lineup and specifications are still being leaked rather than confirmed by Samsung.
So despite the iPhone-like rear design, the phone should still have plenty of Samsung DNA.
It Could Also Bring a Bigger Battery
The redesigned rear panel may provide Samsung with additional internal space.
Some reports suggest the S27 Ultra could receive a larger battery, although the exact capacity remains uncertain.
That’s one of those upgrades users might appreciate much more than a redesigned camera bump.
Nobody buys an Ultra phone because the camera island is pretty.
They buy it because they want the biggest screen, powerful performance, excellent cameras and long battery life.
But There’s One Big Problem With All These Leaks
None of this is official yet.
Samsung hasn’t confirmed the Galaxy S27 Ultra’s final design, camera configuration, battery capacity or built-in magnetic system.
Some of the earliest images circulating online were concept renders based on leaks, while later CAD and case-related leaks have provided additional clues.
The phone isn’t expected to launch until early 2027, meaning Samsung still has plenty of time to change hardware before the final product reaches consumers.
So, Is Samsung Really Making an iPhone?
Not exactly.
The Galaxy S27 Ultra may adopt a camera design that immediately reminds people of the iPhone 17 Pro, but the reason could have more to do with camera packaging, internal space and magnetic accessories than copying Apple.
And Samsung has used horizontal camera designs before.
Still, if these leaks turn out to be accurate, the Galaxy S27 Ultra could look very different from the Galaxy Ultra phones we’ve become used to seeing.
And honestly, that’s probably why this leak is getting so much attention.
Samsung isn’t just changing the cameras. It may be changing the entire visual identity of its most expensive Galaxy phone.
