Samsung Scraps Variable Aperture Plans for Galaxy S27 Series
Rising manufacturing costs and camera bump thickness lead Samsung to abandon a key hardware feature rumored for its 2026 flagships.
Samsung has reportedly decided against including a variable aperture main camera in any of the upcoming Galaxy S27 series devices. The move marks a pivot from earlier industry expectations that the company would introduce the technology to maintain its competitive edge in mobile photography.
According to reports, the decision was driven primarily by increased manufacturing costs and the physical constraints of the hardware, specifically the resulting thicker camera bumps. This shift contradicts rumors from May that suggested the S27 Ultra would feature a 200MP main camera equipped with variable aperture technology. The decision was further influenced by rising DRAM costs, a trend currently impacting the broader smartphone industry.
A Return to Previous Strategy
Variable aperture allows a camera to physically adjust the size of its opening, granting photographers greater control over exposure and depth of field. While the feature has become a niche element in modern smartphones, Samsung is no stranger to the technology. The company previously utilized variable aperture in the Galaxy S9 and S10 series between 2018 and 2019 before abandoning the feature in subsequent generations.
The Cost of Innovation
This decision highlights the ongoing tension between the desire for high-end hardware specifications and the practical realities of smartphone design. As camera sensors grow in size and complexity, manufacturers must balance the addition of new features against the aesthetic and ergonomic impact of the "camera bump." In this instance, Samsung determined that the physical thickness and the financial burden of implementation outweighed the functional benefits of the technology.
Diverging Paths with Apple
The move suggests a strategic divergence between the two biggest players in the premium smartphone market. While Samsung is stepping back from variable aperture, rumors persist that Apple intends to implement the technology in the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. As both companies compete for supremacy in the "camera phone" category, their 2026 and 2027 flagship cycles may be defined by fundamentally different approaches to optical hardware.
What to Watch
Industry observers will now look to see if Samsung compensates for the lack of variable aperture with other sensor improvements or software-driven computational photography updates. While the hardware decision for the S27 appears set, the actual implementation in Apple's future lineup remains unconfirmed, leaving the industry to wait and see if the feature provides a tangible advantage for the end user.