Galaxy S27 Ultra may get a 200MP rear camera with variable aperture

Is the Variable Aperture Returning? Early Galaxy S27 Ultra Leaks Suggest Big Camera Moves

We’re still quite a ways off from seeing the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra in the flesh, but the rumor mill doesn’t care about timelines. While most of us are looking ahead to the S25 or S26, fresh leaks are already painting a picture of what Samsung’s flagship might look like in a couple of years—and it looks like a classic feature might be making a comeback.

According to the well-known tipster Smart Pikachu on Weibo, Samsung is currently testing a 200MP primary sensor for the Galaxy S27 Ultra that features a variable aperture. If that sounds familiar, it’s because it is. Samsung last played with this tech back in the Galaxy S10 era before moving toward fixed apertures and larger sensors.

Why Variable Aperture Actually Matters

So, why go back? A variable aperture allows the camera to physically adjust how much light hits the sensor. In bright daylight, it can narrow the opening to keep images sharp and prevent overexposure. In low light, it opens wide to grab every bit of available detail. It also gives users more control over natural background blur (bokeh) without relying entirely on software tricks. It’s a sophisticated piece of hardware that bridges the gap between smartphones and professional DSLRs.

Interestingly, Samsung isn’t the only one looking at this tech. Rumors suggest that Apple is planning a similar move for the iPhone 18 Pro series, hinting at a new arms race in mobile photography.

Streamlining the Camera Setup

The leaks don’t stop at the main sensor. There are whispers that Samsung might move to a triple rear camera setup, potentially ditching the dedicated 3x telephoto lens that has been a staple of the Ultra line for years. While losing a lens might sound like a downgrade, it usually suggests that the main sensor and the periscope zoom are becoming powerful enough to handle those mid-range focal lengths through high-resolution cropping.

The Tech Behind the Scenes: LOFIC

Beyond the aperture, the S27 Ultra’s 200MP sensor is expected to support LOFIC (Low Overflow Integration Capacitor) technology. In plain English, this tech helps the camera handle extreme lighting scenarios—like a bright sunset or a neon-lit street—without blowing out the highlights. It significantly improves dynamic range, ensuring your photos don’t lose detail in the brightest or darkest spots of the frame.

While we have a long wait ahead of us, these early glimpses suggest Samsung is focusing on refining the hardware physics of their cameras rather than just chasing higher megapixel counts.