Galaxy S27 Ultra: If I Could Change Only 3 Things

Quick summary: A tweet asked: imagine Samsung hands you the S27 Ultra prototype and says you can change only three things. What would you change? My picks are a Pixel-smooth UI, better cameras and a small display on the back. A huge battery is next on my list.

What people want

• A different back design. People are already hating on the S27 Ultra’s rumored back, saying it looks like an iPhone, and many want the cameras horizontal. I like the design and think it’ll look premium in person, so it’s not a pain point for me.
• Bluetooth S Pen. Bring it back. We still have the S Pen, but we lost remote control and remote photo-taking. People want it, so put it back.
• A smoother UI. Samsung is smooth, but not as smooth as OnePlus or Pixel.
• Bigger camera sensors for better low light, plus a return of 10x optical zoom. The main sensor hasn’t changed much in years. Processing has improved year over year, but it’s probably time for newer sensors.
• Massive batteries. The S27 Ultra is rumored at roughly 5,400 to 5,700mAh. That’s really good, but people may still complain.

My wishes

1. A smoother UI. Using the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, the animations felt next level, even smoother than an iPhone. I want that Pixel-level smoothness.
2. Better, more consistent cameras. My sister’s Pixel 11 Pro XL takes beautiful photos quickly and easily. I get similar results on Samsung sometimes, but not consistently. Maybe it’s all software: work with Google on its photo processing.
3. A small display on the back. It’s been a pipe dream of mine. Some Chinese phones have it. I’d use it as a rear-camera viewfinder and to check notifications, the time and the weather. I don’t need full control.

Next on my list: a huge battery. Something like 6,500 to 8,500mAh. Budget phones from China, like Poco, pack 10,000mAh without being crazy heavy or thick. Add 100W wired and 50W wireless charging and I’d be thrilled, though that’s probably not happening soon, and today’s 60W wired and 20W wireless are fine. I’d take 16GB of RAM too, though it doesn’t need it.

The S26 Ultra is already nearly perfect

It isn’t perfect, but it’s almost there. For anyone on Android who doesn’t want a foldable, it’s the phone to get: power, performance, cameras, build quality and years of software updates. The S27 Ultra will be amazing too, even if people complain about the design or the battery.

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