C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
TL;DR Samsung is reportedly testing variable aperture camera hardware again, adding weight to rumors we first heard late last year.
The feature could help future Galaxy phones handle bright daylight and low-light scenes more consistently.
Apple’s expected move to add variable aperture to the iPhone 18 Pro may be pushing Samsung to revisit a feature it dropped in 2019.
We heard rumors late last year that Samsung could be looking at variable aperture cameras again, reviving a feature it dropped years ago. A new industry report now adds some real weight to that idea, suggesting Samsung is keen not to let Apple get a competitive edge on that front.
According to South Korean outlet ETNews, Samsung Electronics has asked multiple camera module partners to develop variable aperture hardware and is already testing early samples. Samsung Electro-Mechanics and MCNEX are said to be involved. The report stresses that the work is still at an early stage, with no final decision yet on whether the technology will ship in a consumer device.
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Variable aperture isn’t a new idea, and long-time Galaxy fans may remember it well. The feature lets a camera physically adjust the amount of light reaching the sensor, using wider apertures in low light for brighter photos and narrower apertures in bright scenes to avoid blown-out highlights and keep more of the image in focus. Samsung last used this approach on the Galaxy S9 and S10, where the camera could switch between two aperture settings depending on conditions.
What are you looking forward to in next-gen phones? 1186 votes Higher quality video capture 17 % Bigger batteries/longer battery life 53 % More impressive/powerful AI features 9 % Better 200MP photos 9 % Ultra-dark displays 9 % Other (let us know in the comments) 3 %
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