Variable Aperture Camera Claimed to be Present in iPhone 18 Pro, Opens More Flexible Photo Options

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to launch in September 2026. (photo; x @Sillycorns)

JAKARTA - Apple is reportedly preparing a significant improvement in the iPhone 18 Pro camera sector by introducing variable aperture technology. This feature is believed to give users more flexibility in taking photos, especially for mobile photography enthusiasts.

The information comes from the Digital Chat Station technology leaker on Weibo, who said Apple is testing an iPhone prototype with a variable aperture main camera. If the testing goes well, this feature could be officially introduced on the iPhone 18 Pro line, which is expected to launch in September 2026.

In addition to the main camera, Apple is also said to be testing improvements to the telephoto camera. Currently, the iPhone 17 Pro uses an f/2.8 aperture for the telephoto lens, and Apple is rumored to be considering a larger aperture to improve its ability to capture light.

Aperture is one of the most important elements in the exposure triangle, along with ISO and shutter speed. Aperture determines how much light enters the camera sensor. On most current smartphones, the aperture is fixed due to the limitations of internal space for mechanical mechanisms.

However, with the wider camera protrusion design on the latest generation of iPhones, Apple is considered to have enough space to embed a variable aperture mechanism. This technology allows the size of the lens aperture to adjust to the shooting conditions, so that photographers can control the depth of field and lighting more naturally.

One of the main benefits of a variable aperture is its ability to produce a background blur or bokeh effect optically. Until now, portrait mode on the iPhone has relied on computational processing to create the effect. With a variable aperture, the bokeh effect can be produced directly by the camera without much digital processing.

In addition, a larger aperture allows more light to enter the sensor. This has the potential to improve the quality of photos in low light conditions, speed up the shutter speed, and reduce the level of noise in the image.

However, this rumor still needs to be approached with caution. Digital Chat Station has a track record that is not always consistent, even though issues regarding variable apertures on the iPhone have been circulating for the past few years. In fact, in 2024, this feature was rumored to be present on the iPhone 17, before analyst Ming-Chi Kuo again associated it with the iPhone 18.

If true, the camera with a variable aperture could be one of the most significant updates to the iPhone 18 Pro line, marking Apple's move towards more professional photographic control on its mobile devices.