Apple is said to be testing two significant rear camera upgrades for the iPhone 18 Pro, pointing to a notable shift in the company’s high-end smartphone camera strategy.
Information shared by the Weibo account Digital Chat Station (via MacRumors) suggests Apple is testing a variable aperture main camera that can physically adjust how much light reaches the sensor.
A variable aperture system widens in darker scenes to capture more light and narrows in brighter conditions to reduce overexposure, offering optical control that smartphones typically rely on software to achieve.
That adjustment also affects depth of field, giving users more natural background blur and subject separation, areas where smartphone cameras often trail larger dedicated camera systems.
Variable aperture testing on the main camera
Multiple earlier reports have suggested Apple plans to introduce variable aperture technology on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with supply chain discussions reportedly underway ahead of large-scale production.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously highlighted the feature in late 2024, and later reports indicated Apple had begun engaging suppliers capable of supporting mechanically adjustable camera components.
Apple has never shipped an iPhone with a variable aperture, instead relying on fixed apertures across recent models, including the iPhone 14 Pro through iPhone 17 Pro, which all use an ƒ/1.78 main lens.
Samsung previously introduced variable aperture cameras on the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S10, but later dropped the feature after citing design complexity, increased thickness, and cost considerations.
The same leaker also reiterated claims that Apple is testing a telephoto camera with a larger aperture for the iPhone 18 Pro, which would primarily improve light capture during zoom photography.
Current iPhone 17 Pro models use a telephoto lens with an ƒ/2.8 aperture, paired with a 48-megapixel sensor that improved detail but did not significantly change low-light performance.
A wider aperture telephoto lens would allow faster shutter speeds, reduced image noise, and stronger background separation, particularly in scenes where digital zoom currently struggles.
As Apple explores hardware-led camera upgrades, we’ve also reported on early signs that the iPhone 18 Pro could adopt teleconverter-style accessories to extend optical zoom capabilities.
Other reports suggest Apple is also evaluating a teleconverter to extend effective focal length, potentially improving optical zoom reach without heavy reliance on digital cropping.
Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro models in the fall, though the company has not confirmed any camera specifications or timelines.
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