Galaxy S27 Pro Surpasses Ultra in Popularity Amid Price Hikes and Design Shifts

Key points

• The Galaxy S27 Pro has overtaken the Ultra in a PhoneArena reader poll, with 42% of voters preferring its 6.47-inch size and redesign over the Ultra's larger display.
• Samsung is reportedly raising prices by 100,000 to 130,000 won due to memory component costs, with the Ultra potentially starting at $1,399 and the Pro at $1,299.
• The Ultra and Pro models will feature a new rectangular camera island, while the base S27 and Plus retain the traditional triple-camera layout.
• The Ultra and Pro are rumored to include a 16MP selfie camera, but the base S27 and Plus may keep the 12MP sensor from the previous generation.
• The series is expected to launch in February 2027, with the Ultra featuring a 5,700mAh battery and the Pro a 5,200mAh battery, both supporting 60W wired charging.

Background

Previous coverage indicated that Samsung was preparing a new 'Pro' tier for the S27 series, with leaks suggesting larger batteries and rising prices due to memory shortages. Earlier reports highlighted that the Ultra and Pro would feature significant battery upgrades, ending a multi-year plateau in flagship capacity, while RAM upgrades remained limited due to cost pressures.

How outlets are covering it

PhoneArena emphasizes the surprising popularity of the Galaxy S27 Pro, noting that its smaller size and Ultra-like features have resonated with consumers. Mashable focuses on the technical specifications and pricing, highlighting the potential price hike and the new camera system. Tech Advisor stresses the financial impact of the price increases, attributing them to AI-driven memory costs and Samsung's push for profitability. SammyGuru points out the disparity in selfie camera upgrades, suggesting that only the top-tier models will receive the 16MP sensor, widening the hardware gap between the lineup's tiers.

Why it matters

The shift in consumer preference toward the Galaxy S27 Pro signals a growing demand for powerful yet compact smartphones, challenging the dominance of the Ultra. The price hikes and hardware disparities within the lineup may influence consumer purchasing decisions and Samsung's market strategy, particularly as memory costs continue to rise.

What to watch

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S27 series in February 2027, with more details on pricing, specifications, and design to emerge as the launch date approaches. The company may also announce further updates to its software and hardware features, including the potential introduction of Polar ID face recognition.