Samsung Aims to Bring Back Variable Aperture in Galaxy S27 Cameras

The smartphone camera tech race continues as Samsung looks to match Apple's expected iPhone 18 variable aperture feature.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Samsung is reportedly working to incorporate variable aperture technology into its future Galaxy S27 smartphone cameras, following Apple's anticipated debut of a similar feature in the upcoming iPhone 18 series. This isn't the first time Samsung has used variable aperture, having previously included it in the Galaxy S9 and S10 models, before later dropping the feature. The renewed interest suggests Samsung sees value in the technology's ability to adapt to different lighting conditions and improve image quality.

Why it matters

The competition between Samsung and Apple to innovate smartphone camera technology is heating up. Variable aperture allows cameras to adjust the amount of light reaching the image sensor, leading to better performance in low-light and bright conditions. Reintroducing this feature could help Samsung differentiate its flagship Galaxy lineup and keep pace with expected advancements from Apple.

The details

Samsung is working with suppliers Samsung Electro-Mechanics and MCNEX to develop the variable aperture technology for the Galaxy S27. This comes after earlier speculation that the feature might return in the Galaxy S26 series. Meanwhile, Apple is also rumored to be adopting variable aperture for the iPhone 18, while also shifting to a new 200MP camera sensor developed in partnership with Samsung.

  • Samsung's Galaxy S9 and S10 models previously featured variable aperture in 2018 and 2019.
  • The Galaxy S27 is expected to be the next Samsung flagship to incorporate variable aperture technology.
  • Apple's iPhone 18 is anticipated to debut the company's first variable aperture camera system later this year.

The players

Samsung

A multinational electronics and technology company that is one of the world's largest producers of smartphones, including the Galaxy S series.

Apple

An American multinational technology company that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, software, and online services, including the iPhone.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics

A subsidiary of Samsung Electronics that specializes in the production of electronic components, including camera modules for smartphones.

MCNEX

A South Korean company that provides camera modules and other components for smartphones, including Samsung's Galaxy devices.

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What’s next

Samsung and its suppliers will need to overcome challenges related to the size and complexity of variable aperture modules to successfully integrate the feature into the Galaxy S27. Ensuring reliable production and scaling will also be key considerations.

The takeaway

The race to innovate smartphone camera technology continues, with both Samsung and Apple vying to offer advanced features like variable aperture. This competition is driving rapid advancements that could lead to significant improvements in image quality and camera performance across the industry.