The Galaxy S27 Pro could solve Samsung’s biggest problem — if it fixes these 5 things

Aamir Siddiqui / Android AuthorityAdd Android Authority on Google: It was somewhere around this time last year that we began seeing leaked renders of a purported Galaxy S26 Pro model, but this obviously didn’t pan out. Once again, we’re seeing fresh rumors that Samsung might introduce a new Pro model with the Galaxy S27 series in early 2027, and the leaks look more plausible this time around. Along with the rumored redesign of the Galaxy S27 Ultra, the new Galaxy S27 Pro is expected to feature the same design, but in a smaller form factor.I’m really excited about this change because Samsung’s non-Ultra phones have suffered from an identity crisis ever since the Galaxy S23 series. The Plus model in the Galaxy S trio has always had an awkward positioning in the lineup, as it was a bit too pricey and lacked the premium features of the Ultra. I don’t see any wiggle room for a fourth model between the current Plus and Ultra phones, which means the S27 Plus will have to give way for the S27 Pro — and I couldn’t be more thrilled.If the Galaxy S27 Pro is going to look like the Galaxy S27 Ultra, it better have some of its features as well to justify the ‘Pro’ badging. I’ll happily buy the Galaxy S27 Pro if Samsung can deliver on these five counts.What do you want most from a Galaxy S27 Pro?335 votesGive me the Ultra’s anti-glare display techJoe Maring / Android AuthorityThe first and biggest addition I want to see in the Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro is the anti-glare display from the Ultra models. We’ve had three generations of anti-glare technology since the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and it’s high time this feature trickled down to the model just below it. This display coating greatly reduces reflections and makes viewing screen content under direct sunlight much better.We’ve had three generations of anti-glare technology since the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and it’s high time this feature trickled down.The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s highlight display feature is Privacy Display, but I don’t expect this to come to the lower models just yet. I’m happy to just get the anti-glare tech for the S27 Pro. The rest of the display specs of the current Plus model are nearly the same as the Ultra anyway, including the peak brightness, resolution, and refresh rate, and this should continue with the S27 Pro as well.The display size is rumored to shrink a bit to 6.6 inches, and the dimensions are smaller as well. This should make the Galaxy S27 Pro a bit more ergonomic for one-handed use or for users with smaller hands.Higher-resolution auxiliary rear camerasStephen Radochia / Android AuthorityThe Galaxy S26 Plus has severely outdated cameras, especially the auxiliary ones like the telephoto and ultrawide. Samsung has been recycling these cameras for more than a few generations, and it needs to stop with the Galaxy S27 Pro. You can’t have a phone with a ‘Pro’ badging and expect buyers to accept camera sensors from three years ago. It’s also not unreasonable to expect higher resolution sensors at this price.The Galaxy S26 Plus has a 10MP telephoto and a 12MP ultrawide, which is simply ridiculous in 2026. When we tested them, we noticed a big color discrepancy between them and the main camera. Also, image quality looks pretty bad even at 10x magnification, let alone the max 30x zoom level. I’m hoping to see both these cameras upgraded to something better, like 50MP sensors.Samsung’s Galaxy S line has long struggled to capture clear shots of fast-moving objects, and I really hope Samsung can fix this across the S27 series, not just the Galaxy S27 Pro. The 12MP selfie camera on the Galaxy S26 Plus is also in dire need of an upgrade, and I really hope it’s not neglected, yet again.Faster wired and wireless chargingThe Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro is expected to have a 5,200mAh battery, larger than the 4,900mAh capacity of the Galaxy S26 Plus. Whether this will be silicon carbon or old-school lithium remains to be seen, but a bump in capacity, in any form, is welcome. If the S27 Pro does indeed feature this battery size, we could also see a bump in charging speed. The S26 Plus had a respectable 45W wired charging speed, but it would be nice to get the 60W charging from the Galaxy S26 Ultra.I hope we get built-in magnets this time, even if this means having a slightly thicker phone.I also want to see Qi2 25W as standard across the Galaxy S27 lineup. Google did it this year with the Pixel 11 series, so there’s no excuse for Samsung not to follow suit. The Galaxy S26 Plus already supports Qi2 at 20W, so it’s not unreasonable to expect Qi2 25W, especially with the rumored larger battery. I hope we get built-in magnets this time, even if this means having a slightly thicker phone. The Galaxy S27 Pro is expected to measure 7.95mm thick, which is 0.65mm thicker than the S26 Plus. This increase could be due to the larger battery and/or built-in Qi2 magnets.Next-level waterproofingJoe Maring / Android AuthorityIt’s crazy to think that not a single Samsung smartphone to date has an IP rating higher than IP68. Even Samsung’s latest XCover series of rugged smartphones doesn’t have an IP69 rating. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 13 flagship model from 2025 had an IP69 rating, and even budget models like the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max feature up to an IP69K rating.An IP68 rating is still good enough to keep your phone safe from dust and water, but for phones that cost above $1,000, I’d expect nothing but the absolute best. If other brands can have their budget models certified for a higher degree of waterproofing, what’s stopping Samsung from doing the same with its flagship phones? Having that extra bit of assurance with a higher IP rating is never a bad thing.Pricing will be crucialKarandeep Singh Oberoi / Android AuthorityThe Galaxy S26 Plus is already overpriced at $1,100 for what it offers, and it feels criminal when you consider it uses mostly recycled parts from past generations. The Galaxy S27 Pro needs to cost the same as the Plus model while still offering most (if not all) of the upgrades mentioned above. Only then will it make sense to even consider it over the Ultra model.The Galaxy S27 Pro needs to cost the same as the Plus model.I’ve always felt the jump from the standard Galaxy S models to the Ultra was too big, at least in terms of features, and that we needed something in-between. A counter-argument to that would also be valid: that a model with near-Ultra features could cannibalize sales of the flagship. Perhaps, the Galaxy S27 Pro is an experiment to see what happens when consumers are given a tougher choice.An Ultra-like phone without the S Pen, at a lower price, is something I’d love to see happen. As someone who doesn’t really care much for a built-in stylus but wants the features of a Galaxy Ultra phone, the Galaxy S27 Pro could hit the spot just right — but only if Samsung executes this well.Thank you for being part of our community. 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