Android phones have used variable-aperture cameras in several distinct ways. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ launched with two settings in 2018; later examples included Huawei phones with selectable positions and Xiaomi phones with different step-based mechanisms.
What variable aperture changes
Aperture is the opening in a camera lens. Changing its size changes how much light reaches the sensor and can affect depth of field—the range of a scene that appears in focus. A wider opening lets in more light; adjusting the opening also gives photographers another way to shape an image.
Android phones used different aperture mechanisms
The models differed in how many settings they offered and how the opening changed. These are camera-design differences, not a ranking of photo quality.
| Phone | Aperture mechanism or settings |
| Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ | Two settings: f/1.5 and f/2.4 |
| Sony Xperia Pro-I | Variable aperture on the main camera, reported at f/2.0–f/4.0 |
| Huawei Mate 50 Pro | Ten selectable positions from f/1.4 to f/4.0 |
| Xiaomi 13 Ultra | Dual-step variable aperture |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | Stepless, 10-blade mechanism |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | Variable aperture on its 50MP main camera, f/1.4–f/2.0 |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | Physical, two-step variable aperture |
The Galaxy S9 and S9+ launched with dual-aperture mode in March 2018. Huawei’s Mate 50 Pro offered ten selectable positions, while Xiaomi’s 13 Ultra and 14 Ultra used different mechanisms: dual-step on the 13 Ultra, stepless with 10 blades on the 14 Ultra.
How phone camera designs changed
Variable aperture appeared across a run of Android models from 2018 through 2025. Sony’s Xperia Pro-I followed in 2021, and the Huawei Mate 50 Pro arrived in 2022. Later examples included Huawei’s P60 Pro in 2023 and its Pura 70 Pro line in 2024; the Honor Magic6 Pro also appeared in 2024.
The feature did not persist across every model line. Samsung later moved away from variable aperture. Xiaomi removed it from the 15 Ultra, which returned to a fixed f/1.63 main-camera aperture. Huawei’s Pura 80 Pro and Pura 80 Ultra and Honor’s Magic7 Pro were among the later models reported with variable aperture in 2025.
What aperture control means for everyday photos
Variable aperture gives a photographer control over light intake and depth of field, but that control does not guarantee visibly better everyday photos. The benefit depends on the scene and the effect the photographer wants; changing the opening is one tool, not an automatic image-quality upgrade.
