Leaked information indicates Samsung will remove Ultra-wideband (UWB) support from the Galaxy S27+, reserving the feature for the Pro and Ultra models. UWB has never been included on the regular Galaxy S model, and Samsung first adopted the technology in 2020 after UWB appeared on flagship phones from 2019.
Why UWB matters for Galaxy S users
Since 2021, every Galaxy S Plus model has included built-in UWB. The technology provides precise, real-time direction finding for Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag trackers when items are nearby. UWB also enables hands-free unlocking with compatible modern cars and other products that use smart locking, unlocking as soon as the phone is detected in the vicinity. Though relatively niche, users who rely on it describe UWB as a quality-of-life upgrade; the Galaxy SmartTag 3 is notably less convenient without it.
The expected removal of UWB on the S27+ is described in the report as an anti-consumer upsell. The author says actively removing features users have come to rely on to push buyers toward higher-priced models is ‘a cruel’ tactic and suggests the change could discourage S26+ owners from upgrading.
