The Quest to Replace Dedicated Cameras
For nearly a decade, I’ve been reviewing smartphones, and in that time, I’ve heard the same bold promise time and again: “This phone will replace your DSLR or mirrorless camera.” Each time, I’ve been tempted to respond with Dwayne Johnson’s raised eyebrow meme. Yet, despite my skepticism, I’ve seen remarkable progress in recent years. Some phones now produce images that feel surprisingly close to what you’d get from a dedicated camera. But it’s not just about megapixels or processing algorithms—it’s about rethinking the hardware itself.
Three Phones That Come Close
Three flagship devices have recently caught my attention for their innovative approaches to mobile photography. Each attempts to bridge the gap between smartphone convenience and professional-grade results in a distinct way.
vivo X300 Pro: Superficial Impressions
The vivo X300 Pro relies heavily on software to mimic the look of a DSLR. Its image processing delivers a shallow depth-of-field effect that can fool the casual observer into thinking a photo was taken with a fast prime lens. However, this is largely a superficial impression—achieved through computational bokeh and sharpening rather than true optical physics. The result can be striking, but it lacks the nuanced blur and natural fade that real lenses produce.
OPPO Find X9 Pro: Tactile Feedback
OPPO took a different route with the Find X9 Pro by incorporating a retractable lens mechanism. When you launch the camera, a lens physically extends from the body—a nod to the tactile experience of using a real camera. This not only adds a satisfying mechanical feel but also allows for a larger aperture and improved light capture. The extendable lens gives users a sense of control and connection to the shooting process that conventional fixed lenses simply can’t match.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra: The Game-Changing Variable Aperture
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra, however, is the device that truly made me rethink the possibilities. It features a variable aperture on one of its rear cameras—an innovation that has long been confined to advanced compact cameras and interchangeable lenses. By allowing the aperture to adjust from f/1.4 to f/4.0, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra gives photographers direct control over depth of field and exposure. This single hardware feature brings the phone closer to a DSLR than any software trick ever could. It’s not just about the image; it’s about the creative freedom to decide how much light enters the sensor and how much background blur you want—all without relying on digital algorithms.
Why Samsung and Google Need to Catch Up
While companies like vivo, OPPO, and Xiaomi push the boundaries of camera hardware, Samsung and Google seem to be resting on their computational laurels. Samsung’s Galaxy Ultra line boasts a 200-megapixel sensor and impressive zoom capabilities, but it still lacks a variable aperture. The company last experimented with the technology on the Galaxy S9 and S10, then abandoned it in favor of larger sensors and AI-driven enhancements. Google, meanwhile, has built its reputation on computational photography with the Pixel series—delivering stellar results from relatively modest sensors. But the Pixel 9 Pro, for all its intelligence, cannot physically control aperture; it relies entirely on software to simulate effects.
This gap matters because variable aperture offers tangible benefits that software alone cannot replicate. For example, at f/4.0, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra can capture everything in sharp focus—perfect for landscapes. At f/1.4, it lets in more light for low-light shots and creates a shallower depth of field for portraits. Samsung and Google phones can adjust brightness via exposure compensation, but they cannot change the physical depth of field. As a result, their bokeh often looks artificial, with edges that betray the computational nature of the effect. Moreover, variable aperture reduces the need for excessive digital manipulation, meaning photos retain more natural detail and less processing noise.
Another advantage is the ability to shoot at the “sweet spot” of the lens. A variable aperture allows the phone to choose an aperture where the lens is sharpest, typically stopped down slightly, rather than being forced to use the widest opening all the time. This can improve overall image quality, especially in well-lit conditions.
Of course, Samsung and Google have their strengths: Samsung’s telephoto lenses and Google’s HDR+ algorithms are industry-leading. But when it comes to offering photographers genuine optical control, they are falling behind. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra, with its variable aperture, shows that the future of smartphone photography lies not just in software wizardry but in rethinking hardware to give users more creative options.
Until Samsung and Google embrace such innovations—whether it’s a variable aperture, an extendable lens, or something entirely new—they will remain one step behind the brands that are willing to take risks and reconceive what a camera phone can be. The era of simply sticking a great sensor and hoping software fills the gaps is coming to an end. The new frontier is about marrying mechanical ingenuity with computational excellence—and Xiaomi, vivo, and OPPO are leading the charge.