Samsung Drops Variable Aperture From Galaxy S27 Ultra, Backs 200MP Camera Upgrades
Updated
Updated · Geeky Gadgets · Aug 17
Samsung Drops Variable Aperture From Galaxy S27 Ultra, Backs 200MP Camera Upgrades
3 articles · Updated · Geeky Gadgets · Aug 17
Summary
Samsung has decided not to add variable aperture to the Galaxy S27 Ultra, judging the feature too costly and too limited in real-world image gains for its next flagship.
Internal trade-offs drove the move: variable aperture would have increased manufacturing costs, added thickness to the device, and delivered only marginal benefits versus computational photography.
The S27 lineup still centers on camera upgrades, led by a 200-megapixel main sensor on the Ultra, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 50-megapixel 5x telephoto lens.
Samsung previously used dual-aperture hardware on the Galaxy S9 and S10, but later shifted toward software-led imaging improvements—a strategy the S27 decision reinforces.
That choice leaves Samsung betting that AI-driven photography and high-resolution sensors matter more than experimental optics, even as Apple is reportedly exploring variable aperture for future phones.
Will Samsung's risky bet on AI over mechanical lenses cost them the smartphone photography crown if Apple adopts variable aperture?
With experimental camera hardware scrapped, will the Galaxy S27 actually deliver a noticeably thinner design and lower price tag for everyday consumers?
Can software truly fake physical optics, or is the Galaxy S27 sacrificing pro-level depth of field just to cut manufacturing costs?