Apple is reportedly gearing up for a major upgrade to its iPhone camera system. A new report indicates that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max may feature a variable-aperture primary camera, marking a significant shift in Apple’s approach to mobile photography.
Variable Aperture Could Redefine iPhone Photography
According to ETNews, Apple has finalized a mechanically adjustable aperture design that allows the lens to alter how much light enters through the primary wide-angle camera. This would move the iPhone closer to the functionality of traditional DSLR cameras, where the aperture opens wider in low-light conditions to improve exposure and depth-of-field control.
Currently, the iPhone 17 Pro series uses a fixed f/1.78 aperture, limiting flexibility across lighting scenarios. With a variable opening, users could benefit from enhanced low-light imagery and more precise background blur control.
As expected, Apple is likely to keep this feature exclusive to the Pro variants, and only the main rear camera is said to receive the upgrade—leaving ultrawide and telephoto lenses unchanged. LG Innotek and Foxconn are reportedly supplying the camera modules, while Luxshare ICT and Sunny Optical will manufacture the components responsible for managing aperture movement.
Variable aperture tech has appeared before in devices like the Samsung Galaxy S9/S10 and more recently the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. For Apple, this signals a step beyond purely software-driven computational photography toward meaningful hardware innovations.
The challenge, however, lies in engineering—especially maintaining durability and waterproofing around moving components, which could also lead to a slightly thicker device.
If implemented effectively, the feature could mark one of Apple’s biggest camera upgrades in years. The iPhone 18 Pro lineup is expected to launch in late 2026, following Apple’s typical release schedule.
