Galaxy S27 Ultra Wishlist: Top 6 Upgrades That Actually Matter

Samsung’s Ultra phones have reached a point where big leaps are rare, and expectations are higher than ever. The Galaxy S26 Ultra, which arrived just weeks ago, continues that trend. It brings a few genuinely new ideas, but overall, it feels more like refinement than real progress. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does highlight the gaps Samsung still needs to address.

Here’s a practical, no-nonsense wishlist for the Galaxy S27 Ultra, focused on the upgrades that would actually make a difference in 2027.

1. Make 16GB RAM the standard, not a luxury

In 2026, 12GB RAM on an Ultra phone already feels like yesterday’s spec. Samsung is aggressively pushing on-device AI in One UI, and these features are only getting heavier. Locking 16GB RAM behind a 1TB variant (as with the S26 Ultra) sends the wrong message. For the Galaxy S27 Ultra to be a “no compromises” flagship, Samsung must make 16GB RAM the standard across all variants.

2. Fix the weakest link: the 3x telephoto camera

Samsung’s camera system is powerful, but inconsistent. A 10MP 3x telephoto sensor in 2026 simply doesn’t belong on an Ultra device. Moving to a 50MP (or higher) 3x sensor with a larger optical footprint would help capture more light and dramatically improve portrait shots and low-light telephoto performance. Competitors like OPPO and Vivo are already pushing boundaries here. Samsung can’t afford to lag.

3. Give the front camera a real upgrade (finally)

The selfie camera has been “good enough” for years, but it’s time for a real upgrade. The Galaxy S27 Ultra could bring two meaningful upgrades to the front camera:

• OIS (optical image stabilization)
  → Better low-light selfies
  → Smoother video calls and vlogs
• Square or higher-res sensor (inspired by Apple’s approach)
  → Flexible framing (portrait + landscape)
  → Better for creators

4. Bigger battery

Samsung has leaned heavily on efficiency. That’s fine, but it’s not enough anymore. A 5,000mAh battery in an Ultra phone feels stagnant, especially when rivals push far beyond that (and we first saw it on an Ultra way back in 2020). The Galaxy S27 Ultra should aim for a 5,500mAh or bigger battery to go with the 60W wired charging Samsung introduced with the S26 Ultra this year.

5. Next-gen display that actually pushes quality forward

Samsung displays are already excellent, but there’s still room to evolve. In fact, the Privacy Display feature introduced with the Galaxy S26 Ultra affects the display experience. Samsung should address it with the S27 Ultra next year and also upgrade to a real 10-bit panel rather than relying on software tricks to simulate 10-bit color depth. The company could also improve brightness and anti-reflective coating.

6. Stop artificial feature restrictions

This is the big one. Samsung is known for artificially restricting features to newer models despite no hardware limitations on older devices. Rumors suggest Galaxy S26’s Call Screening feature may not roll out to the Galaxy S25, even though the 2025 flagships can perfectly run the feature. This has raised concerns about the company’s long-term software philosophy.

If Samsung promises 7 years of updates, that should include meaningful features, not just version bumps. It should fairly roll out features to capable hardware. Otherwise, the promise risks becoming purely symbolic.

The Galaxy S27 Ultra doesn’t need to reinvent smartphones. It just needs to fix what’s starting to feel outdated and align Samsung’s hardware, software, and promises into one cohesive experience. Expect S27 Ultra leaks to start pouring in in the coming months.