[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics’ upcoming Galaxy S9 smartphone is likely to feature an improved “Infinity Display” and a camera that can shoot DSLR pictures, according to news reports on Feb. 14.

An invitation released by Samsung to the media bore the slogan “The Camera. Reimagined,” suggesting huge improvements in the camera department, industry watchers said. The smartphone is set to be unveiled during the Mobile World Congress, which kicks off Feb. 25.

The new smartphone reportedly has a camera with a variable aperture arrangement that can allow users to take pictures at a very fast f/1.5 to a slightly slower f/2.4, depending on conditions, the sources said.

A lower f-stop translates into more light hitting the sensor resulting in better low-light performance. A better aperture on a lens can permit higher shutter speeds and out-of-focus blur that is favored for portrait shots by many photographers.

The main camera on the Korean tech giant’s current flagship Galaxy S8 smartphone, is still rated one of the best in the business, with an aperture of f/1.7 compared with the slightly better f/1.6 adopted by LG Electronics’ V30 smartphone.

While the Galaxy S9 Plus will feature a dual camera with optical zoom functionality, the smaller Galaxy S9 will have just a single module, the sources predicted.

Media leaks regarding the upcoming smartphone suggest that the new camera will carry Samsung’s latest ISOCELL mobile imaging sensor, which can permit more shots to be processed more quickly by the smartphone.

By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)