In summary:
- Tech Advisor reports Samsung may revive variable aperture camera technology for future Galaxy S phones, a feature last seen in the Galaxy S9 and S10 models.
- This development appears influenced by Apple’s rumored iPhone 18 Pro variable aperture plans, with Samsung reportedly requesting component samples from partners.
- The technology is expected to debut in the Galaxy S27 Ultra rather than the S26, offering improved low-light performance and depth control.
Samsung is rumoured to be bringing back a special camera feature for future Galaxy S phones – and it might have been inspired by its oldest rival.
According to South Korean website ETNews, Samsung is looking to reintroduce a variable aperture camera with future Galaxy phones.
We last saw such a system – at least in a Samsung phone – in the Samsung Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S10 way back in 2018 and 2019 respectively, which could switch between f/1.5 and f/2.4 apertures. However, the company didn’t pursue the technology further.
It’s not nostalgia that’s driving Samsung’s move to reinstate this feature, however, but a very clear and present threat from its biggest rival.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
According to reports, Apple is planning to add a similar variable aperture camera to the iPhone 18 series (most likely the Pro) at the end of the year, which has apparently prompted a response from Samsung.
As such, Samsung Electronics has reportedly requested variable aperture component samples from “multiple camera module partners”.
The new technology is said to be in the early stages of development, so don’t expect it to appear in the Samsung Galaxy S26 range, which is set to arrive in a matter of days.
However, the company is said to be “strongly committed to using it” (via machine translation) on a future device.
Given the nature of the iPhone 18 Pro rumours, that seems likely to mean the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra – a point made by well-known leaker Ice Universe.
Samsung isn’t the only company to have experimented with variable aperture technology. The Huawei P60 Pro, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, the Sony Xperia Pro-I, and the Nubia Z70 Ultra (pictured above) all featured such a provision, though some dropped it on successors.
We’ve always found the provision to be something of a gimmick, though it does allow you to play with some nice depth of field variation. Adopting the wider aperture setting also allows more light to hit the sensor, which can be good for low light scenarios.
Author: Jon Mundy, Contributor, Tech Advisor
Jon is a freelance journalist who got his start covering mobile games at the dawn of the App Store. He has since covered everything from smart home tech and laptops to food and culture, but always seems to return to his fascination with smartphones.