The iPhone 18 Pro models could offer significantly improved image quality, courtesy of the inclusion of a variable aperture camera.
Apple upgraded the telephoto camera on the iPhone 17 Pro models, without changing the aperture
The iPhone 18 series has been rumoured to mark a shift in Apple's product lineup, with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max expected to launch in September, while the vanilla iPhone 18 debuts in 2027. According to a tipster, the Cupertino-based tech giant is testing two major camera improvements for the next-generation iPhones, including a variable aperture for improved imaging. The iPhone 18 Pro models are also tipped to benefit from an upgraded telephoto camera.
According to a Weibo post by tipster Digital Chat Station (translated from Chinese), Apple is testing a new primary camera for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The upgraded sensor is tipped to feature a variable aperture. In theory, it would allow the iPhone camera to adjust the amount of light entering the sensor, offering more control over the depth of field and exposure.
If true, it would make the iPhone 18 Pro models the first smartphones from the tech giant to feature this technology.
Several Android OEMs have already tried their hand at this technology. Samsung introduced a variable aperture for the main camera back in 2018 with the Galaxy S9 series, but dropped it in the subsequent generations due to space constraints and rising costs.
In addition to the variable aperture, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are also tipped to get an upgraded telephoto camera. Both handsets may debut a new telephoto unit with a larger aperture, potentially improving the background separation, light accumulation, and noise suppression.
For comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro models have a 48-megapixel telephoto camera with an f/2.8 aperture. While the tech giant introduced upgraded cameras over the iPhone 16 Pro lineup, it retained the aperture size.
Both of these rumours are in line with previous leaks, which hinted towards notable camera upgrades on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. In December 2024, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo opined that the purported handsets could offer significantly improved image quality, courtesy of the inclusion of a variable aperture camera.
At the time, BE Semiconductor (BESI) was believed to be the supplier of assembly equipment for aperture blades, a critical component of this upgrade.
Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.