iPhone 18 Pro comes with a variable aperture camera

Paul is apparently ready to join the trend started by some of its Android rivals. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 18 Pro, which is expected to be unveiled in 2026, will likely be equipped with a variable aperture camera system.

Android manufacturers have been working with variable aperture lenses for some time to give users more control over light entering and depth of field. These lenses change their aperture size just like professional cameras. In the right lighting conditions, a narrower aperture produces sharper images and a wider depth of field, with both foreground and background components in focus. Conversely, a wider aperture lets in more light, which is great for capturing well-exposed shots in low-light environments, albeit with a shallower depth of field that blurs the background.

Previously, The Information had hinted that a variable aperture camera might be introduced in at least one of the iPhone 17 models, but a new report from Kuo suggests that this feature may not be available until the iPhone 18 series. to be postponed in 2026. In particular, Kuo predicts that the main camera of the iPhone 18 Pro will benefit from this technology.

His research shows that Sunny Optical is likely to be the primary supplier of the camera shutter mechanism and Luxshare is the secondary supplier. Interestingly, Sunny Optical is also expected to supply the variable aperture lens as a secondary supplier, while Largan Precision will remain the primary supplier. To date, all iPhone models have used fixed-aperture lenses, which limit control over the amount of incoming light and depth of field. But variable aperture technology can give users finer control over these settings, allowing them to change the settings according to their taste.

It's worth noting that Kuo's report is based on industry surveys and should be considered an informed prediction and not absolute truth. With two years to go until the release of the iPhone 18, Apple has plenty of time to improve its plans and possibly change its camera strategy.