WIPO sketches suggest Samsung may be exploring a horizontal camera module for the Galaxy S27 Ultra and S27 Pro, replacing its familiar vertical layout.
Samsung could be preparing a major physical redesign for its upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra and S27 Pro smartphones, with new patent sketches suggesting the company may replace its traditional vertical camera arrangement with a horizontal module.
The possible design change was spotted in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) global design database. According to tech blog Sammyguru, the sketches linked to Samsung’s next flagship smartphones show a familiar flat-edged design with rounded corners, but a significantly different rear camera layout.
Instead of the vertical camera arrangement used on recent Galaxy Ultra models, the sketches show a flat horizontal bar containing three separate camera lenses.
The proposed design would give Samsung’s next flagship phones a look closer to the Google Pixel 11 Pro and the rumoured Apple iPhone Air. It would also represent a return to a camera layout Samsung previously used on devices such as the Galaxy S10.
A horizontal camera bar could offer some practical benefits. A centrally positioned module could allow the phone to sit more evenly on a flat surface, potentially reducing the wobbling that can occur when users type or write while the device is placed on a table.
The redesign could also create additional space on the rear panel for magnetic accessories. This may help Samsung improve compatibility with Qi2 accessories and allow stronger magnetic attachments without requiring a specialised case.
However, it remains unclear whether Samsung has committed to the proposed design for the Galaxy S27 Ultra. Industry leaker Ice Universe has reportedly expressed support for the change, while earlier supply-chain reports from July indicated that Samsung had not yet made a final decision.
The newly discovered WIPO sketches suggest the company is at least actively exploring the redesign, although patent and design filings do not necessarily confirm that a product will reach the market in the same form.
The Galaxy S27 series is expected to launch in 2027 with updated camera technology and other hardware improvements. If Samsung adopts the new horizontal camera layout, the change would represent one of the company’s more significant smartphone design revisions in recent years.