A Special Feature the iPhone 18 Will Have / iPhone 18 Pro: The First iPhone Series with Variable Aperture

According to SaedNews, Apple is catching up with a trend initiated by several Android competitors. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that the iPhone 18 Pro, expected in 2026, might come with a variable aperture camera system. While several Android OEMs have launched smartphones with variable aperture cameras in recent years, this feature has yet to appear on an iPhone.

A few months ago, The Information reported that at least one of the iPhone 17 models would feature a variable aperture camera next year. Now, Ming-Chi Kuo claims that the iPhone 18 Pro will also include this camera technology.

Apple Intelligence can prioritize and summarize notifications, emails, and messages, giving users a new and more natural way to interact. When you need to find something, you can search your photo album on your phone, simplifying daily tasks. This should not be surprising, as the iPhone 17 series also includes a variable aperture camera, and future models are likely to continue this trend.

iPhone 18 Pro: The First iPhone Series with Variable Aperture

Android manufacturers have long experimented with variable aperture lenses to give users more control over light intake and depth of field. These lenses adjust their aperture size like professional cameras.

In bright settings, a narrower aperture allows for sharper images with deeper depth of field, where foreground and background elements remain in focus.

According to Gizmochina, a wider aperture allows more light, ideal for well-exposed photos in low-light environments, albeit with shallower depth of field, which blurs the background behind the subject.

The Information previously indicated that a variable aperture camera might be featured in at least one of the iPhone 17 models. However, Kuo's latest report suggests that this feature may be delayed until the iPhone 18 lineup in 2026. Nevertheless, Kuo expects the main rear camera of the iPhone 18 Pro to benefit from this technology.

Kuo's industry survey indicates that Sunny Optical will likely be the primary supplier of the camera shutter mechanism, with Luxshare as the secondary source.

Sunny Optical is expected to provide a variable aperture lens as the secondary supplier, while Largan Precision will remain the primary source.

So far, all iPhone models have had fixed aperture lenses, limiting control over light intake and depth of field. However, variable aperture technology could give users more precise control over these settings.

It is important to note that Kuo's report is based on industry surveys and should be considered an informed prediction rather than a confirmed fact. With two years remaining before the iPhone 18's release, Apple has ample time to refine its plans and potentially change its camera strategy.