Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra camera feature now works on telephoto lenses, but not older phones

Samsung's S25 Ultra now has adjustable background blur on more cameras. This feature won't come to older Galaxy phones, meaning new upgrades get better photo options.
By Newsroom | Technology, Mobile Phones |

Samsung is bringing a "virtual aperture" feature, previously confined to its primary camera and a specialized app on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, to also encompass its telephoto lenses. This software-driven enhancement allows for adjustable background blur intensity in portrait shots, simulating aperture changes for a more professional depth-of-field effect. While this expanded functionality is confirmed for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, a Samsung community moderator has explicitly stated that older Galaxy Ultra devices will not receive this update.

The company’s latest Galaxy S26 Ultra reportedly offers this virtual aperture capability across all its lenses. This move signifies Samsung's intent to provide granular control over depth-of-field, a feature typically associated with dedicated camera hardware. The virtual aperture technology, a software interpretation of aperture adjustment on smartphones with fixed lenses, will now be accessible for Samsung's 3x and 5x telephoto cameras on the S25 Ultra, a capability that was notably absent when the feature first appeared on the primary camera via the Expert RAW application.

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Background: Shifting Sands of Smartphone Photography

This development follows a pattern of feature differentiation between Samsung's flagship tiers. The Galaxy S25 Ultra, upon its release, offered the virtual aperture functionality solely within the Expert RAW app, and even then, it was restricted to the main camera sensor. The extension of this capability to telephoto lenses on the S25 Ultra represents a significant expansion of its creative potential. However, the firm denial of the update for older models underscores a clear strategy to segment its product offerings and incentivize upgrades.

Separately, leaks and reports surrounding the Galaxy S26 Ultra suggest further advancements in camera hardware. One report indicates a potentially wider physical aperture (f/1.4) for the S26 Ultra's primary camera compared to the S25 Ultra's f/1.7 aperture, aiming for improved low-light performance. This widening of the aperture, if it materializes, could be a notable hardware upgrade, distinct from the software-based virtual aperture feature. The potential return of a variable aperture, reminiscent of camera technology seen in models as far back as the Galaxy S10, has also been speculated for future Samsung devices, though its implementation remains unclear. The overall design and internal specifications of the S26 Ultra are reported to bear a striking resemblance to the S25 Ultra, with a performance boost anticipated due to Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What new camera feature is Samsung adding to the Galaxy S25 Ultra?
Samsung is adding a 'virtual aperture' feature to the Galaxy S25 Ultra. This lets users change how blurry the background is in photos, making them look more professional. It now works on telephoto cameras, not just the main one.
Q: Will older Samsung Galaxy phones get the virtual aperture update?
No, Samsung has confirmed that older Galaxy Ultra phones will not receive this virtual aperture update. The feature is only for newer models like the S25 Ultra and the upcoming S26 Ultra.
Q: How does the virtual aperture feature work on the Samsung S25 Ultra?
The virtual aperture is a software feature that makes the background blur in photos stronger or weaker. It helps create a 'depth-of-field' effect, like on professional cameras. On the S25 Ultra, it now works with both the main and telephoto lenses.
Q: What is different about the virtual aperture on the upcoming Samsung S26 Ultra?
The upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to have the virtual aperture feature available on all of its camera lenses from the start. This is an improvement over the S25 Ultra, where it was first limited to the main camera and then expanded to telephoto.
Q: Why is Samsung not giving the virtual aperture feature to older phones?
Samsung is likely doing this to encourage customers to buy their newer phone models. By limiting features to recent devices, they create a reason for people to upgrade their phones to get the latest camera technology.