We've been hearing a lot of rumors about variable aperture coming to phones in the near future, particularly the iPhone 18 Pro. We've also heard a lot of speculation that Samsung could bring back the feature, which it hasn't included since 2018's Galaxy S10 — but that could change.
A new report from ET News claims that Samsung Electronics has requested its camera module partners to develop multiple-aperture technology for a future smartphone. However, we shouldn't expect this camera upgrade to arrive soon, and certainly not on the imminent Galaxy S26 series.
Sources speaking to ETNews claim that the new technology is "still in the early stages of development," with both Samsung Electro-Mechanics and MCNEX supplying Samsung Electronics with samples. It's not been confirmed when the new camera will be in use, but Samsung is supposedly "strongly committed to using it."
What is variable aperture?
Variable aperture cameras let users alter how much light is actually reaching the camera sensor, which can help improve the clarity of photos in different conditions. Wider apertures can improve light intake and therefore offer better performance in low-light conditions. A narrower aperture does the opposite, offering better sharpness and clarity in brightly-lit areas.
Most phones stick to the static aperture on all their camera lenses, but there are some that opted for variable aperture throughout the years. The Galaxy S9 and S10 are two of the best-known examples, though Samsung scrapped the feature ahead of the Galaxy S20 release.
Apparently, it was due to the company's concerns over thickness and manufacturing costs. Though ET News claims that new advancements mean these issues aren't quite so problematic. Meaning Samsung can still have relatively slim cameras, and minimize the cost of a physical aperture switch.
It's not unheard of to have phones with these capabilities. The likes of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Huawei Mate 50 Pro all offer some level of adjustable camera aperture. But it's not a common feature, since most phone companies prefer to let the camera software do most of the work for them.
But with Apple and Samsung apparently getting in on the action, we may be about to see an explosion of variable aperture cameras outside China, too. Because software can only go so far.
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