Apple is currently testing two significant upgrades to the rear camera system of future iPhone models, according to a report by the well-known leaker Digital Chat Station on the Chinese social network Weibo. According to the new information, the company is conducting tests on variable aperture technology for the main camera, a step that could give users unprecedented physical control over the amount of light entering the sensor.
Variable aperture technology allows the camera to adjust the size of the lens opening according to environmental conditions. In low-light situations, the aperture can open to let more light reach the sensor, while in bright conditions it can close to prevent overexposure. Beyond managing light, the upgrade is expected to provide greater control over depth of field, allowing higher sharpness of the subject compared to the background.
The current report reinforces previous rumors that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be the first to include the upgraded camera. As early as the end of 2024, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that Apple would integrate a variable aperture in the 2026 Pro models, and later reports confirmed that the company is indeed in talks with component suppliers to implement the plan.
So far, Apple has not used a variable aperture in any iPhone models. The main cameras in the iPhone 14 Pro through iPhone 17 Pro models are equipped with a fixed ƒ/1.78 aperture. In the past, Samsung introduced similar capability in the Galaxy S9 and S10 models but abandoned it in 2020 due to high production costs and impact on device thickness.
Alongside the main camera upgrade, the leaker notes that Apple is also testing a new telephoto lens with a wider aperture for the iPhone 18 Pro series. Although the iPhone 17 Pro models featured a 48-megapixel telephoto sensor, the aperture size remained at ƒ/2.8. Increasing the aperture on the zoom lens is expected to improve image quality in low-light conditions, reduce digital noise, and allow for faster shutter speeds.
Additional rumors regarding the iPhone 18 Pro series suggest the possibility of integrating a teleconverter component to extend optical zoom range, as well as upgrading the front camera to a 24-megapixel sensor. The new devices are expected to be unveiled in fall 2026, alongside reports of the launch of the company’s first foldable iPhone.