Thanks, Apple: Variable aperture and curved displays could be coming back to Android

The Apple iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max introduced a 48MP primary camera with a variable aperture, a first for the iPhone lineup. We’re now learning that Android smartphone brands, particularly in China, may take cues from this hardware addition for their upcoming devices.

According to a machine-translated post from leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo, “several” Chinese phone makers are considering a variable aperture lens for future devices. Interestingly, these brands seem to be considering pairing this mechanism with a massive 200MP sensor.

The iPhone 18 Pro lineup’s variable aperture system uses a series of laser-cut blades that open and close mechanically to control the light and background blur in your photos.

However, this tech isn’t exactly brand new on phones. We saw the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S10 launch with a dual-aperture setup nearly a decade ago. Brands like Xiaomi, Huawei, Sony, and others have used this hardware, too.

Beyond cameras, Digital Chat Station claims Chinese brands are also considering borderless quad-curved screens, which previous leaks suggest could be a core part of the iPhone 20 Pro lineup. The idea is to give users a truly bezel-free screen, a goal brands have long pursued.

While we haven’t seen a truly borderless/bezel-free smartphone outside of concepts, brands like Huawei and Xiaomi have previously used the term quad-curved screen for their devices. Samsung and other brands have launched flagships with curved sides in the past, also known as waterfall displays, but it’s too soon to tell whether they will make a comeback anytime soon.

It will be interesting to see how things pan out for Android smartphone makers going into 2027. If this new revelation holds up, we probably won’t have to wait long to see a Samsung Galaxy flagship with a 200MP variable aperture lens and a borderless quad-curved display.