Apple, like most phone makers, puts a lot of focus on improving the cameras from one model to the next, and we now have an idea of what the next two generations of camera updates might look like.
Numerous leaks have already pointed to 48MP telephoto cameras for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, with the whole iPhone 17 line possibly getting 24MP front-facing cameras. But with the iPhone 18 line, Apple might focus on the aperture rather than megapixels.
This is according to reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who in his latest post on Medium claimed that Apple will be equipping the main camera on the “high-end” iPhone 18 models with a variable aperture.
By high-end he presumably means the iPhone 18 Pro Max and likely also the iPhone 18 Pro, but he doesn’t mention the phones by name.
A variable aperture allows you to adjust the size of the lens opening on the iPhone, similar to how you can with a DSLR camera. This feature gives you greater control over the amount of light that enters the camera sensor, affecting the depth of field in your photos. With a variable aperture, you can switch between different f-stops, providing flexibility for various shooting conditions. In other words, you can enjoy more artistic freedom to experiment with varying depths of field and achieve the desired look for your photos.
So this sounds like it would be a worthwhile upgrade, and while we’d take Kuo’s reporting with a pinch of salt for now – especially as this is a very early leak – he does have a great track record for Apple information.
Not the first variable-aperture phone
If this claim does prove to be accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max wouldn’t be the first smartphones with a variable-aperture lens. Most smartphones do not feature variable aperture technology. However, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra does include this capability, just like the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus also had a variable aperture system, but it was based on older technology. Currently, Samsung’s latest models, such as the Galaxy S24 Ultra, do not incorporate variable aperture technology.
Since the firstiPhonewas revealed in 2007, Apple has consistently improved the camera on its No. 1 product. The next significant update could arrive in less than two years.