Samsung has a tonne of upgrades for the Galaxy S25 Ultra including a high pixel sensor and better videography capabilities but the flagship could get even more interesting if it equips a variable aperture camera system.

Samsung uses high-quality main lenses with the S series including the latest 200Mp module. The company has utilized this lens for Galaxy S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra, and it will likely come with Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Instead of the exact same module, the Galaxy S25 Ultra will get some photography and videography upgrades via new algorithms. Besides, you can have new camera app experiences thanks to the One UI 7.

So, it would be a mixed camera upgrade for the main lens. However, you can anticipate improvements in telephoto or ultra-wide angle to get some new improvements.

But what if Samsung adds a variable aperture to this new flagship device? That would be a key highlight for all photography enthusiasts.

Variable aperture enables you to change the aperture size by controlling the amount of light entering the camera.

In the background, the mechanism uses physical hardware that collaborates and changes the apertures using blades with opening and closing sequences.

It offers numerous advantages over a fixed aperture camera including:

• Low-light control – A large aperture can enter more light into the sensor to brighten the scene and reduce noise in low-light conditions.
• Depth Control – The aperture also controls depth of field, a large aperture creates a shallow depth to isolate a subject from the background. On the other hand, a smaller aperture creates a depth of field for landscape photography.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Camera (Source – Samsung)

Galaxy S9 – The start and evolution

Variable aperture is not new to the smartphone industry, in fact, it has been available for years. Interestingly, Samsung was the first to popularize variable aperture with the Galaxy S9 in 2018.

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ feature dual aperture, which automatically adjusts and passes light to the sensor. It can switch between F1.5 and F2.5 for dark and light photography environments respectively.

Unfortunately, the Korean tech giant dropped this tech with the Galaxy S10 and went back to fixed aperture. So, Samsung is familiar with this tech but it will require some new advancement step ahead in the competition.

Chinese phone makers including Huawei and Xiaomi have led this tech to a new level in recent flagship devices. A more sophisticated multi-blade aperture system has evolved including the 6-blade architecture.

This offers better light control, quality, and depth of field than ever before. These and other smartphone companies are searching for new variable architecture to improve the overall design and quickness of closing and opening the blades.

Even some reports suggest that Apple could also adopt variable aperture for its upcoming iPhone 17 in 2025.

Why it should

Compared to its competitors, Samsung uses the top-of-the-line 200mp camera system and due to the sheer pixel density, It can experiment with these aperture sizes to bring the best for consumers.

Note: Samsung has not confirmed the variable aperture camera for the Galaxy S25 Ultra. So, we can only remain optimistic about the photography enhancements with this upcoming flagship.

Galaxy S26 Ultra?

If it doesn’t happen with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, we’ll have to wait for Samsung’s next S-series flagship – S26 Ultra in 2026. Yet, things remained unconfirmed from this point of view.

Samsung may not release the Galaxy S25 Slim early next year. The company could stick to its usual launch strategy of introducing new Galaxy S flagships. The additional Slim-branded variant could come out a few months later.

According to MaxJambor, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim won’t release alongside the Galaxy S25 lineup. The source confirmed that the S25 Slim “exists behind closed doors,” suggesting that the phone is still under consideration.

Apart from this, Max also claimed that the Galaxy S25 Slim won’t replace the Galaxy S25 FE. That said, pro-grade hardware specifications are highly likely on Samsung’s rumored Slim-branded flagship smartphone.

IceUniverse recently revealed that the Galaxy S25 Slim could pack an “Ultra” camera. The cryptic X post hints at a 200-megapixel sensor on the S25 Slim. However, the other camera specifications remain yet to be known.

Recently, Samsung’s SM-S937U was spotted on the GSMA IMEI database. The model number hints at a fourth Galaxy S25 variant that could be Slim or Special Edition. The phone is said to feature a thinner design than the other S25 flagships.

Samsung is considering bringing the Galaxy S25 Slim to compete with Apple’s iPhone 17 Air. It is reported that Apple has finalized the iPhone 17 Air with a slimmer design and single camera, but it could replace the iPhone 17 Plus.

The South Korean tech giant might drop the first hint at the Galaxy S26 design with the Galaxy S25 Slim. Korean media reported that the S25 Slim’s market response will decide how Samsung will design the Galaxy S26 series to be released in 2026.

Samsung has announced that the Health Monitor app will no longer work on Galaxy smartphones running Android 11 or earlier. This change will take effect from 23 December 2024, when the next version of the app (1.4.1) is released.

After this date, users with smartphones running Android 11 or older will no longer be able to use some important features, especially when paired with a Galaxy Watch. These features include blood pressure, electrocardiograph (ECG) readings through the app, and more.

The fresh update of the Health Monitor app arrives with version 1.3.6.001, which includes a notification letting users know about this change. While the current version of the Samsung Health Monitor will continue to work on phones running Android 11 or older, users won’t get any new features or updates.

However, to access the full functionality of the Samsung Health Monitor app, including new features, will need to upgrade their phones to Android 12 or newer.

Samsung’s limited support for Android 12 and above shows the company is focusing on keeping the app compatible with newer hardware and software for optimal performance and security. Users with older phones are encouraged to update to a newer version of Android to continue using the full range of health features in the app.

If you’re using an older Galaxy phone and want to keep using the Samsung Health Monitor with all its features, you should consider upgrading your device. Samsung also recommends updating your Galaxy Watch to the latest software version for the best experience.

For users who can’t update their devices, the app will still work with limited features, but no further support or new features will be available.