Samsung is likely to reintroduce variable aperture technology in its smartphones, possibly with the Galaxy S27 Ultra in 2027, as a response to Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 series and new foldable form factors, with ongoing experiments on foldable screens and camera features.
Xiaomi has launched the 13 Ultra, an upgraded version of the 13 Pro, with a variable aperture main camera sensor that can adjust between f/1.9 and f/4.0. The phone also features a 50-megapixel f/1.8 ultrawide camera, two 50-megapixel Sony IMX858 sensors for telephoto, and Leica optics. The device has a 6.73-inch 120Hz QHD+ AMOLED, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 12/16GB RAM, and 256/512/1TB of UFS 4.0 storage. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra will be available in black, olive green, and white colors with a synthetic leather finish and is expected to be priced at €1,299.
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra will feature a one-inch main camera with variable aperture technology, allowing users to adjust the aperture from f/1.9 to f/4.0. This feature should address a long-standing issue with large camera sensors and wide apertures, delivering a deep depth of field to keep everything in focus in a scene. The phone is set to launch on April 18 and will have a global release.