The Samsung Galaxy S9’s recent announcement and subsequent release on March 16th marks next iteration of one of the top cell phones on the market today. The Galaxy line is as much of a mainstay as the iPhone, with new versions released reliably every year. With these new releases, consumers expect to see a considerable step forward with each new phone.

One category that has been consistently improved upon is the camera. One of the biggest selling points for smartphone companies is the new and improved camera that comes as a part of the package. Lately, the improvements to these cameras have been less about the hardware and specs, and more about the software behind them that allows them to capture such great images. The improvements are still there, but they aren’t as obvious as they have been in years past.

This year, Samsung aims to end this trend with its new camera technology that pushes the boundary of mobile photography further than they have been pushed before.

Samsung introduces a new concept to the market with its variable aperture on the new S9 and S9+. The camera can take photos at f/1.5 as well as f/2.4 allowing different amounts of light to hit the sensor in a way that was previously impossible for smartphone cameras to achieve. Among other things, the most prevalent outcome from this is a camera that excels in low-light performance. But beyond that, it pushes cameras further into the territory of dedicated cameras, giving the user an experience that comes closer than ever before to matching a DSLR or point and shoot. Of course these dedicated cameras allow for more control of the aperture, but it is a step in the right direction.

Before I go on, it’s worth mentioning that these cameras are nowhere near the level of quality that can be achieved by dedicated cameras. I mean, those are made for one purpose: to be a camera. But steps like this that have been made by Samsung and other smartphone companies give users the best possible option for something to use that is already in their pocket anyway. If the big smartphone brands continue to push the boundaries of what is possible like this, soon we could see the landscape of photography change drastically with the consumers being the ones who benefit.

While smartphones continue to improve the quality of their built-in cameras, big camera brands will be starting to look over their shoulder to see how much they need to do to continue to stay as a high-end option for those looking to pursue photography or videography. Competition between companies always benefits the consumer, similarly, as the line between dedicated cameras and smartphone cameras starts to blur, the competition between dedicated camera companies and smartphone manufacturers will benefit consumers in the same way.

While smartphone cameras continue to improve, dedicated camera companies will have to improve as well to stay ahead. This means that every photographer, from amature to professional, will see changes in the market that will benefit their craft.

In addition to the variable aperture, Galaxy S9 owners will be treated to an updated camera interface, improved software and image processing, and a slow motion camera that allows for motion 32 times slower than normal playback (as compared to the 8 times slower motion that we have seen in smartphones recently). Many accuse Samsung of simply putting in features with big numbers to show off their specs, but regardless of where you fall, numbers like these are impressive and they will continue to push the envelope for what’s possible in smartphone photography.