Samsung might bring back Galaxy S9’s variable aperture camera just to copy iPhone
Source: 9to5Google
Samsung variable aperture may return, spurred by iPhone plans
Back in 2018, Samsung’s big new camera feature on the Galaxy S9 was the ability to change the physical aperture of the camera on the fly, and now, it might be making a comeback, thanks to Apple.
The aperture of your camera lens helps determine how much light is captured by the sensor. While you typically want to capture as much light as possible, there are cases—such as bright, sunny conditions—when you want to restrict it. Nearly every smartphone that’s ever been sold has had a fixed aperture, but Samsung toyed with a variable‑aperture setup on the 2018 Galaxy S9+. In our review, we found it to be a slightly underused but nice addition in terms of flexibility with the camera.
Here’s what the hardware looked like in action:
Variable aperture died a year later on the Galaxy S10 series, and Samsung hasn’t looked back ever since. But the feature is now back on the table for future Galaxy devices.
ETNews reports that Samsung has “requested the development of variable aperture technology from multiple camera module partners,” with Samsung “strongly committed” to bringing the feature back to future Galaxy smartphones. Why the sudden change of heart? The iPhone, of course.
The report says Apple plans to bring variable‑aperture camera tech to the iPhone 18 series, with Samsung making this move for the sake of “camera competitiveness.” The feature might only appear in the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Apple has inspired a lot of Samsung’s direction in Galaxy flagships lately, with Samsung reportedly scrapping its original Galaxy S26 plans entirely to match the iPhone’s price—a move that “didn’t really work out.”
As for variable aperture, it could be a fun revival, especially if Samsung finds new ways to use it. Over the past year, the technology has improved in terms of both cost and physical footprint, but we’ll have to wait and see how things shake out. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 series is seemingly devoid of a single noteworthy camera upgrade.