tech
February 10, 2026
Samsung Considers Bringing Back a Camera Feature It Once Declared a Dead End
Samsung might bring back a camera feature it once declared a dead end. This is about variable aperture, a technology that last appeared on the Galaxy S9 model in 2018 before quietly disappearing from the lineup.

TL;DR
- Samsung is reportedly requesting suppliers to develop a new generation of variable aperture camera systems.
- Variable aperture allows control over the amount of light reaching the sensor, improving dynamic range and sharpness.
- The technology was previously removed from Samsung phones after the Galaxy S9 due to limited benefits on small sensors.
- Samsung's potential return to this feature follows speculation about Apple's use of variable aperture in future iPhones.
- Xiaomi also experimented with variable aperture but abandoned it due to limited effects, space consumption, and higher production costs.