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.

Samsung Considers Bringing Back a Camera Feature It Once Declared a Dead End

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.