Samsung is reportedly planning to add a variable aperture to its smartphone cameras, following Apple's move with the iPhone 18 Pro models. According to Korea's ET News, the South Korean tech giant has asked multiple camera module partners to develop and provide samples of the technology, which allows the camera to adjust the amount of light reaching the sensor.

A variable aperture enables better low-light performance by opening wider in dark environments while preventing overexposure in bright conditions. It also provides users with greater control over depth of field, allowing for more professional-looking photos with blurred backgrounds. Samsung previously offered this feature on its Galaxy S9 and S10 models in 2018 and 2019 but discontinued it due to increased thickness and high costs.

The feature is still in early development, with final installation not yet confirmed. However, Samsung reportedly sees variable aperture as "necessary to increase camera competitiveness" and hopes that investing in the technology will eventually reduce thickness and costs. Apple's first variable aperture camera is expected to arrive in the iPhone 18 Pro models this fall, marking the company's first use of this technology after years of fixed ƒ/1.78 apertures on its Pro models.