Samsung could be preparing to revive one of its most interesting camera tricks: variable aperture. The feature first appeared on the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+, giving those phones the ability to physically adjust the camera’s aperture to better handle different lighting conditions. It later disappeared from Samsung’s flagship lineup, but a new rumor suggests it may be on the way back—possibly as a response to Apple’s future iPhone plans.
Variable aperture is designed to make smartphone photography more flexible without relying solely on software. On the Galaxy S9 series, Samsung’s main camera could mechanically shift between f/1.5 for darker environments (to capture more light) and f/2.4 for brighter scenes (to improve sharpness and reduce overexposure). It was a standout feature at the time, especially for low-light photos and challenging lighting situations.
Now, a well-known tipster, Digital Chat Station, claims Samsung is testing variable aperture again. The timing is notable because multiple reports also point to Apple adding variable aperture to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. If that happens, it would be a rare case of Apple adopting a feature that competitors explored years earlier—similar to how Apple introduced a tetraprism zoom lens later than several Android rivals that had already been using periscope-style camera hardware.
The same rumor also mentions foldables. Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone is said to use a different, wider form factor, and Samsung is reportedly experimenting with a wide-angle folding screen as well. While details are still thin, it suggests Samsung may be watching Apple’s next moves closely in both camera hardware and foldable design.
As for when variable aperture could actually return to Samsung phones, the outlook is less immediate. There has been chatter about the Galaxy S26 Ultra potentially getting variable aperture cameras, but it appears to be based on limited claims so far. With reports indicating the base Galaxy S26 may stick with a camera setup similar to the Galaxy S25, it sounds unlikely that Samsung will bring variable aperture back in the next flagship generation. If these rumors are correct, a more realistic target could be 2027, possibly with the Galaxy S27 Ultra.
It’s also worth noting that while Apple may be expected to debut variable aperture on the iPhone 18 Pro models, there’s no solid information yet on how advanced the system could be—such as whether it will offer multiple aperture steps or a limited range. For now, that remains an open question until more leaks or supply chain details emerge.
If Samsung does reintroduce variable aperture in a future Galaxy Ultra model, it could be positioned as a major photography-focused upgrade—especially as smartphone camera competition heats up again. And for anyone framing it as Samsung “copying” Apple, the history here matters: Samsung was already using variable aperture years ago. The real story may be less about copying and more about two major rivals circling back to hardware-based camera improvements after years of leaning heavily on computational photography.
