Hartley Charlton
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models will feature an updated primary rear camera with a variable aperture for the first time, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In recent years, Apple has gradually expanded new camera technologies such as sensor-shift stabilization, 48-megapixel sensors, and a tetraprism 5x telephoto camera across all of its iPhone models. Now, it looks like the next big camera upgrade will be the introduction of variable aperture after the iPhone 17 Pro models complete the transition to 48MP rear camera arrays by adding one to the telephoto lens.
The information comes from Kuo's latest Medium post, where he outlined how upcoming products like the iPhone 17 “Slim,” M5 MacBook Pro, and iPhone 18 will impact Apple supplier Sunny Optical. Kuo believes that Sunny Optical and Luxshare will be the primary and secondary shutter suppliers for the iPhone. The 18 Pro's new main camera, as well as its variable aperture lens, will be supplied by Sunny Optical and Largan Precision.
The iPhone 14 Pro, 15 Pro, and 16 Pro's main cameras all have a fixed aperture of ƒ/1.78. The variable aperture on future iPhone models will allow the main camera to control the amount of light entering the lens, allowing it to adapt to different lighting conditions. It will also provide greater control over depth of field, allowing for sharper focus on subjects or smoother background blur. The iPhone 18 is expected to launch in 2026.
Tags: Largan, Luxshare, Ming-Chi Kuo[ 73 comments ]
