Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Phones
  3. News

After four generations of camera stagnation, the Galaxy S27 might finally get a new main sensor

Samsung could turn to Sony for the Galaxy S27’s long-overdue main camera upgrade

Add as a preferred source on Google
Samsung Galaxy S26
Tom Bedford / Digital Trends

Samsung might finally be ready to stop recycling the same main camera hardware on its standard Galaxy S phones, which it introduced with the Galaxy S22. GalaxyClub reports that some Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27+ prototypes are being tested with a new 50MP Sony sensor for the main camera.

Such a move would break Samsung’s long-running preference for its own ISOCELL hardware in the primary cameras of Galaxy S phones, even if the resolution remains unchanged.

What could change with the main camera?

The Galaxy S27 and S27+ are still expected to use a 50MP main camera, but megapixels only tell part of the story. A newer Sony sensor could capture more light, improve dynamic range, reduce noise, and give Samsung’s image processing better raw data to work with.

Samsung has managed to improve photo quality across several generations through better software, newer processors, and more advanced computational photography. Still, there is only so much processing can do when the underlying sensor barely changes. A new main sensor would therefore be a welcome upgrade, especially after an earlier report suggested the standard Galaxy S27 could reuse much of the same camera hardware again.

Recommended Videos

There is still no guarantee that the Sony sensor will make it into the final phones. The S27 series is also still early in development, leaving plenty of time for these plans to change.

What about the rest of the cameras?

The main camera may be changing, but the ultrawide appears far less exciting. GalaxyClub says the Galaxy S27 and S27+ are expected to keep a 12MP ultrawide camera. Samsung may be saving the larger upgrades for the more expensive models. Previous reports suggest the Galaxy S27 Pro and S27 Ultra could feature 50MP ultrawide and telephoto cameras, along with a new 16MP selfie camera.

If these reports hold up, the standard Galaxy S27 models could finally get a better main camera while their secondary hardware stays familiar. I will believe the Sony switch when Samsung makes it official, but it is at least a more encouraging rumor than another year of unchanged sensors.

Sudhanshu Kumar Mangalam
I’ve got about 4 years of experience, mostly covering gaming, PC hardware, and smartphones. In my free time, I like…
WhatsApp’s next iPhone update could make searching chats much easier
WhatsApp finally wants to make finding that one message less of a chore.
WhatsApp app store listing open on iPhone

Searching for an old message in a busy WhatsApp chat has always felt like more work than it should be, especially on an iPhone. WhatsApp is finally fixing that with a new button that lets you jump into search mode without ever leaving the conversation.

How do you search for a message on WhatsApp right now?

Read more
The Minimal Phone 2 adds an AMOLED display and 5G connectivity without losing its old-school charm
A smaller, aluminum-bodied sequel with a full OLED panel, 5G connectivity, and an upgraded keyboard.
Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

The original Minimal Phone built its entire identity around an E Ink screen that made scrolling annoying on purpose. The black-and-white E Ink screen intentionally made watching videos or scrolling through social media posts look less colorful or appealing to the human eye.

So, when The Minimal Company announced its successor with an AMOLED display that supports a higher refresh rate, I was a bit surprised. I wasn’t expecting the company to walk back the hardware choice that made it quite interesting. But that doesn’t mean that the Minimal Phone 2 isn’t worth a look. 

Read more
The Galaxy S26 FE specs are out, and Samsung is playing the same old game
Samsung appears to be recycling plenty of old hardware for the Galaxy S26 FE
Close-up of three circular cameras on the back of the white Galaxy S25 FE

Samsung’s upcoming “budget” flagship has leaked so many times over the past few months that there is not much left for the company to reveal. We have already seen its colors, redesigned camera housing, older processor, and familiar cameras. Now, a new leak appears to have filled in nearly the entire spec sheet.

WinFuture has obtained detailed specifications for the Galaxy S26 FE, pointing to a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 2340 x 1080 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and brightness reaching 1,900 nits in high-brightness mode. The phone is expected to come in Graphite, Pistachio, and Blueberry.

Read more