Apple’s iPhone 18 May Introduce a Variable Aperture Camera

Apple may hold off on introducing a variable aperture camera until the iPhone 18, enabling photographers to adjust light intake and depth of field through hardware. Previously, rumors suggested this feature would appear in the iPhone 17, but the latest insights indicate that we may need to wait until the following model.

Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that this potential camera upgrade could encourage some users to skip the iPhone 17 altogether. With a variable aperture, the iPhone 18 would allow photographers greater flexibility in adjusting how their photos appear. While Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and S10 models featured similar technology in past years, Apple’s adoption of this feature would make the iPhone 18 one of the first U.S. smartphones with this capability.

The aperture, the opening through which light enters a camera, affects how much light reaches the sensor. Smartphone cameras typically have larger apertures to compensate for their smaller sensors, ensuring adequate light for quality photos. With a fixed aperture, however, photographers face limitations. Adjustable apertures allow for greater detail capture in bright conditions and improved depth of field effects, beyond what software-based portrait modes and exposure controls offer.

Apple’s variable aperture implementation, likely provided by Sunny Optical, is expected to debut on the high-end iPhone 18 models, catering to professional photographers and photography enthusiasts seeking enhanced control over their images. However, it’s unclear how wide this aperture range will be. For context, Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and S10 allowed for two settings, f/1.5 and f/2.4, based on lighting conditions. Apple may follow a similar approach.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 is anticipated to offer other improvements, including a 48MP telephoto camera and a 24MP front-facing camera. While initial reports suggested that the iPhone 17 might be the first to feature a variable aperture, Kuo’s findings challenge these expectations, leaving the possibility open.

With the iPhone 17 expected in September next year and the iPhone 18 tentatively planned for 2026, these rumors still have time to evolve. The Shortcut team will monitor for any new leaks or updates.