Last year, a rumor went around that Samsung was considering switching its Galaxy S26 lineup to accommodate a new "Pro" phone. High expectations come from the use of the word "Pro" in a smartphone's name, so I was very excited about the promise.
I was one of those who wanted a smaller Galaxy S26 Pro — at least smaller than the massive Ultra — without the S Pen and with a similar set of high-end features, including the excellent telephoto zoom.
Plans for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Pro were scrapped, though, supposedly for financial reasons. Samsung preferred to keep its existing strategy instead of gambling on something new. But the idea was certainly appealing.
Plans for a Pro phone haven't died, just delayed. A Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro is in the works for sure this time. The problem I have with it is that Samsung is already ruining it by focusing on the wrong aspects of a "Pro" phone.
The Galaxy S27 Pro will miss a major feature of any "Pro" phone
Samsung keeps messing up its camera setups
Take a look at the new Google Pixel lineup or new iPhone lineup every year and try to find what distinguishes Pro phones from non-Pro ones. It's usually a mix of upgrades across the board that earn the Pro phone its name.
More RAM, faster charging, better display, a faster processor sometimes, and extra features built on top of those upgrades, but more importantly, there's always one huge difference: the camera.
So far, Pro phones have been an indicator of a superior camera experience. You buy a Pro phone because you get the best main lens, the best ultra-wide, and the best zoom. Pro phones can go up to 10x optical zoom and higher with digital zoom.
I've sung the praises of zoom many times. Here is the cliff note: Everyone needs a zoom camera, they just don't know it. Parents, pet owners, travelers, office employees, students — everyone can benefit from pointing their cam from afar and zooming in.
Samsung can't call this a Pro phone if a regular Pixel 10 already has a better zoom camera.
Yet, the rumor mill today says that the Galaxy S27 Pro will not have Samsung's best zoom camera. It should get a 12MP 3x telephoto lens, which is way worse than the current Galaxy S26 Ultra's 50MP 5x telephoto.
The best photo you'll be able to get out of this phone is a 12MP zoomed 3x shot. There's no way to do optical-quality zoom to 6x (if the sensor were a 50MP one, that would've been possible). And that's not enough, not at all.
The basic Google Pixel 10 has a 10.8MP 5x zoom lens. This is a one-year-old phone that doesn't claim to be "Pro" and still outdoes what Samsung is planning on offering with the Galaxy S27 Pro next year. Read the room, Samsung, and stop being cheap.
The Galaxy S27 Pro looks like a mixed bag of features
Some are welcome, others are questionable
Other Galaxy S27 Pro rumors promise to mix a few good and other bad choices from Samsung. The company, in my opinion, is putting the focus on the wrong features instead of upgrading the things that matter.
It's highly likely, according to multiple sources, that the phone will feature the Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display. Samsung's innovative display tech darkens the entire screen or part of it at an angle, saving your phone from nosy people and wandering eyes.
It is impressive tech, for sure, but it's been linked to headaches and discomfort for many people. Samsung could fix those next year, but I still don't think it's worth the trouble — at least not yet. A lot of people will be paying money for a feature they may never use.
Another questionable decision revolves around processors. Samsung is supposedly going with an Exynos processor everywhere for the Galaxy S27 Pro (and S27 and S27 Plus), whereas the Ultra will get a Snapdragon processor globally.
This alone tells me that Samsung is considering its Pro phone less important and less worthy than its Ultra phone. I'm not naive, I know Ultra > Pro, but in my mind, the two should earn a distinction from the more basic phones.
Chip downgrade, battery upgrade, unnecessary display tech — this is a phone with an identity crisis.
Besides this, the Galaxy S27 Pro is supposed to get the Ultra line's 200MP main camera sensor, a 6.4 to 6.5-inch display, and a great battery upgrade to 5,200mAh thanks to new Silicon Carbon technology (the same one seen on the new Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 series).
We're pretty sure it won't have an S Pen, understandable, which is what makes the entire concept possible. Removing the pen means Samsung can build a smaller, lighter phone that doesn't have any "wasted" space inside.
Don't call this a Pro phone unless it is
Last year, when the rumors of the Galaxy S26 Pro were still viable, my colleague Rajesh expressed his discontent at calling "Pro" a phone that isn't one, and listed a wishlist that would justify a proper Galaxy Pro phone. I will reiterate his requests today.
If you ask me what would make a great Galaxy Pro phone, it would be fast charging similar to the Ultra, a high-capacity battery, the best processor with excellent thermal management, and a no-compromise camera setup.
A 12MP 3x telephoto isn't a no-compromise camera. It is a very-much-compromised camera. I would trade a Privacy Display screen for a zoom camera upgrade any day. I'm sure many would, too.