Various Android manufacturers have been introducing smartphones with variable aperture cameras, and it appears Apple will soon join this trend with the iPhone 18 Pro. Let’s explore the rumors surrounding this big news.
iPhone 18 Pro camera : Variable Aperture
Apple has consistently been at the forefront of smartphone camera innovation, with recent impressive upgrades including sensor-shift stabilization, the tetraprism 5x telephoto camera, and the Camera Control button. Now, they seem ready to take another leap forward.
Partnership with Sunny Optical and Luxshare
According to renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s recent blog post, Sunny Optical is expected to receive a high-value order for the 2026 iPhone 18’s variable aperture camera shutter and lens components. Additionally, Kuo indicates that Sunny Optical and Luxshares will serve as the primary and secondary shutter suppliers for the main camera, while Sunny Optical and Largan Precision will provide the variable aperture lenses.
- Also, read:
Better focus, stunning bokeh, and low-light mastery
Currently, the Pro series iPhones (14, 15, and 16) feature a fixed aperture of f/1.78. A variable aperture system would allow users to control the amount of light entering the lens, enabling better adaptation to different lighting conditions. This advancement would provide greater control over depth of field, allowing for both sharper subject focus and smoother background blur. The technology would particularly enhance low-light photography capabilities.
What else?
Additionally, Kuo has shared insights about the cameras in other upcoming Apple products, including the rumored iPhone 17 Slim and M5-powered MacBook Pro, developments that could impact Apple supplier Shunyu Optics.
iPhone 18Thoughts on Variable Aperture
This hardware-based approach in the iPhone 18 Pro camera would be a significant improvement over the current software-driven portrait mode, which applies artificial blur that often falls short of replicating natural bokeh effects.
- Meanwhile, watch our video iPhone 14 vs iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16 comparison video:
