Ming-Chi Kuo, an Apple analyst, has reported that the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models will significantly upgrade their main rear camera, introducing a variable aperture for the first time.
Apple has steadily introduced cutting-edge camera technologies over recent years, including sensor-shift stabilization, 48-megapixel sensors, and a 5x tetraprism telephoto lens across its iPhone lineup.
Following the integration of 48-megapixel sensors into the telephoto camera of the iPhone 17 Pro models next year, the next major leap in camera technology appears to be adopting a variable aperture system.
According to Ming-Chi Kuo’s recent analysis on Medium, the introduction of products like the iPhone 17 “Slim,” the M5 MacBook Pro, and the upcoming iPhone 18 will have implications for Apple’s supplier, Sunny Optical. Kuo predicts that Sunny Optical, along with Luxshare, will serve as the primary and secondary shutter providers for the iPhone 18 Pro’s enhanced main camera.
Additionally, Sunny Optical and Largan Precision are slated to supply the variable aperture lenses. While the current iPhone 14 Pro through 16 Pro models employ a fixed aperture of ƒ/1.78, this new variable aperture feature in future models would dynamically adjust light intake to suit various lighting scenarios, offering users greater control over depth of field, thus allowing for either pinpoint focus on subjects or a beautifully blurred background. This advancement is anticipated for the iPhone 18, expected to hit the market in 2026.
