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Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Models Tipped to Offer Support for Telephoto Extender Kit, Variable Aperture Lens

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Models Tipped to Offer Support for Telephoto Extender Kit, Variable Aperture Lens

Apple is said to be evaluating teleconverter lenses for the iPhone 18 Pro models.

Written by Nithya P Nair, Edited by David Delima | Updated: 29 January 2026 11:09 IST

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Models Tipped to Offer Support for Telephoto Extender Kit, Variable Aperture Lens

Photo Credit: Vivo

Vivo X200 Ultra was launched with telephoto extender lenses

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Highlights

Camera-focused enhancements are in development for iPhone 18 series
The telepconverter lenses are optical attachments
Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro series in September

Apple's iPhone 18 lineup is likely to be launched later this year, and the company might only launch two "Pro" models this year followed by the iPhone 18 in early 2027, as per recent leaks. A tipster has now hinted at improvements in the imaging performance offered by the company's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models. Apple is said to be testing telephoto extender lenses for the iPhone 18 series, which could function much like a DSLR-style teleconverter kit. Flagship smartphones from Oppo and Vivo already offer similar telephoto extender solutions.

Apple Could Join Android Smartphone Makers Offering Support for a Teleconverter Kit

Weibo tipster Smart Pikachu (translated from Chinese) claimed that Apple is currently testing the use of teleconverter lenses for the iPhone 18 series. The accompanying hashtag hints that it could debut on the iPhone 18 Pro models, which are expected to be equipped with a built-in telephoto lens, just like the company's existing iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Photo Credit: Weibo/ Smart Pikachu

The teleconverter lenses are optical attachments that increase the focal length. The presence of a teleconverter on the iPhone 18 Pro series could extend the camera's optical zoom range. Oppo and Vivo are already providing DSLR-Inspired Teleconverters for the Oppo Find X9 Pro and Vivo X300 series. It was initially introduced with the Vivo X200 Ultra.

iPhone 18 Could Arrive With This RAM Upgrade Over the iPhone 17

Further, the tipster suggests that Apple has been testing multiple variable aperture lens prototypes for the iPhone 18 series. All these features are expected to boost the imaging capabilities of the next-generation iPhone models.

Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro series in September this year, though all the specifications and features circulating remain in the rumour phase. The standard iPhone 18 is tipped to come with a 6.27-inch panel with a Dynamic Island, while the iPhone 18 Pro is said to have a 6.27-inch panel. The iPhone 18 Pro Max could offer a 6.86-inch display. Both Pro models are said to ditch the Dynamic Island design.

iPhone 18 Pro Series Expected to Debut With Dynamic Island, Tipster Claims

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are rumoured to pack 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM, 18-megapixel front-facing cameras with 6P lenses and a C2 modem. Pro models may include triple rear camera units, featuring three 48-megapixel sensors. More concrete details about the lineup could emerge in the coming months as official and credible leaks begin to surface.

Vivo X200 Ultra

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.82-inch

Processor Snapdragon 8 Elite

Front Camera 50-megapixel

Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 50-megapixel + 200-megapixel

RAM 12GB

Storage 256GB

Battery Capacity 6000mAh

OS Android 15

Resolution 3168x1440 pixels

More Vivo mobiles Vivo mobiles price in India

OPPO Find X9 Pro

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Fresh-new IP69-rated design
Vibrant display with skinny bezel
Smooth software experience
Feature-rich software with useful AI add-ons
Excellent battery life with fast charging speeds
Impressive overall camera performance

Bad
Teleconverter mount blocks access to other cameras

Read detailed OPPO Find X9 Pro review

Display 6.78-inch

Processor MediaTek Dimensity 9500

Front Camera 50-megapixel

Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 50-megapixel + 200-megapixel

RAM 12GB

Storage 256GB

Battery Capacity 7500mAh

OS Android 16

Resolution 1272x2772 pixels

More OPPO mobiles OPPO mobiles price in India

Vivo X300

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Compact and premium design
Bright 8T LTPO AMOLED display
Decent Battery Life
Pro-grade cameras
Top-notch performance
Improved software experience

Bad
Speakers could have been better
Overheating issue

Read detailed Vivo X300 review

Display 6.31-inch

Processor MediaTek Dimensity 9500

Front Camera 50-megapixel

Rear Camera 200-megapixel + 50-megapixel + 50-megapixel

RAM 12GB, 16GB

Storage 256GB, 512GB

Battery Capacity 6040mAh

OS Android 16

Resolution 1216x2640 pixels

More Vivo mobiles Vivo mobiles price in India

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Further reading: Apple, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro Series, iPhone 18 Series

Nithya P Nair

Email Nithya P Nair

Nithya P Nair is a journalist with more than five years of experience in digital journalism. She specialises in business and technology beats. A foodie at heart, Nithya loves exploring new places (read cuisines) and sneaking in Malayalam movie dialogues to spice up conversations. More