Samsung is adding this Galaxy S26 feature to older phones

Virtual Aperture coming to Galaxy S25 models?

Summary created by Smart Answers AI

In summary:

• Tech Advisor reports that Samsung’s new Virtual Aperture camera feature from the Galaxy S26 will be added to older Galaxy S25 phones through a software update.
• This software-based enhancement allows users to adjust aperture settings on the telephoto camera, improving photography flexibility without requiring new hardware.
• Samsung may reintroduce hardware variable aperture in future Galaxy S27 models, while Apple reportedly explores similar technology for iPhone 18 Pro.

Samsung is reportedly looking to bring a cool camera feature over from the Galaxy S26 to its older phones.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 range is here, and outside of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s cool Privacy Screen feature, there aren’t too many new features.

One cool new camera feature for the entire range, however, is Virtual Aperture, which lets you change the aperture on the telephoto camera for some nice variable depth-of-field effects.

As the name suggests, however, this isn’t a hardware feature, but rather a software one.

Indeed, over on Samsung’s Korean community page (via SamMobile), users have been asking whether the company will bring the Virtual Aperture feature to older phones.

In reply, a Samsung executive working on the camera team has confirmed that the company will be bringing the feature over to the Samsung Galaxy S25 series via a software update.

While this virtual solution is fun to play around with, rumour has it that the Samsung Galaxy S27 series will go one step further.

One prominent rumour that emerged last month stated that next year’s flagship models would add a variable aperture – or should that be, reinstate a variable aperture. We previously saw Samsung employing such a hardware feature in the Samsung Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S10 in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Samsung isn’t the only major smartphone company toying around with a variable aperture, if reports are to be believed. Apple is said to be exploring the technology for its iPhone 18 Pro series, which will launch towards the end of 2026.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Rating of this product is 4.5 out of 5
Read our review
Price When Reviewed: From £1,279
Best Prices Today: £1279 at AO | £1279 at Argos | £1279 at Currys