Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models may debut variable-aperture camera
Apple is rumored to introduce a variable-aperture lens on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, allowing mechanical control of light entry and potentially improving video smoothness and photo quality.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max with a variable-aperture camera, a first for the company's smartphones. Unlike the current fixed-aperture lenses, a variable aperture can mechanically adjust the size of the opening, letting more or less light reach the sensor.
The change could reduce reliance on software-based exposure adjustments, resulting in smoother video in bright conditions and sharper photos, especially at the edges. Portrait-mode images that use bokeh may also appear more natural, according to the analysis.
It remains uncertain whether the aperture will be user-controlled or automatically managed by the device, a factor that will determine whether the feature serves as a manual photography tool or an automatic enhancement. Apple is slated to launch the iPhone 18 Pro series in September, alongside its first foldable iPhone.