Galaxy S27 Ultra camera leak: Samsung to "steal" iPhone 18 Pro variable aperture for near 1-inch 200MP camera

The Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra is now rumored to feature a serious 200MP, 1/1.2-inch main camera with variable aperture and LOFIC technology, matching Apple's iPhone 18 Pro roadmap. This upgrade would mark a return to mechanical lens adjustments for improved dynamic range and low-light performance.Samsung might (finally) attempt to claim the mobile photography crown with the new Galaxy S27 Ultra. The feature was pioneered with the Galaxy S9 but later abandoned.

This move aligns Samsung with rumors suggesting Apple will introduce similar technology in the iPhone 18 Pro series - you can be the "who stole what/when" debates are going to be fun.

The heart of the S27 Ultra’s camera array is expected to be a 1/1.2-inch 200MP sensor (likely the ISOCELL HP6). Unlike previous iterations, this sensor will utilize a variable aperture, allowing the lens opening to physically adjust.

How wide are we going? Well, perhaps Samsung will stick to the super-wide f/1.4 aperture from the S26 Ultra and go for something like f/4.0 on the other end (like the Huawei Pura 90 Pro Max) - just an educated guess.

Samsung to "steal" iPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture back from Apple; near 1-inch 200MP sensor to match Xiaomi and Oppo flagships with wide dynamic range

According to previous leaks, Samsung fans should expect to see Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor (LOFIC) tech in the main sensor. By pairing pixels with dedicated capacitors to collect "overflow" light, LOFIC drastically expands dynamic range, preventing blown-out highlights in high-contrast scenes. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the "living proof" for that.

Specs aside, in a surprising design shift, Samsung may rearrange the triple-camera setup, ditching the dedicated 3x telephoto lens. Instead, the high-resolution 200MP primary sensor will likely handle intermediate zoom through high-quality cropping, backed by a 50MP ultrawide and a 50MP 5x periscope lens.

All in all, the rumored camera system streamlining could provide Samsung with the internal room (and budget) necessary for the new 200MP camera upgrade. It seems like the South Korean giant is finally taking camera hardware more seriously?