A new leak has strengthened reports that the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro lineup will include a variable aperture lens, marking a major first for Apple’s smartphone cameras. According to industry insiders, the feature may debut exclusively on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, though Apple has not confirmed any details.
A variable aperture lens allows users to manually adjust how much light enters the camera, giving better control over depth of field. This means users can choose between a shallow depth for artistic portrait shots, a medium setting for balanced focus, or a deep depth to keep everything sharp in landscape photos.
Unlike current iPhone models that rely on software-based Portrait mode for background blur, a variable aperture provides a more natural, optical effect similar to professional cameras. It can also help filmmakers shoot in bright daylight without overexposing footage, especially at lower frame rates like 24fps.
Reliable sources, including analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and leaker Digital Chat Station (DCS) have backed the claims. Both suggest the feature could appear on the high-end iPhone 18 models. DCS specifically mentioned the iPhone 18 Pro Max, noting it will have a large variable aperture and a 48MP telephoto lens with a wider aperture than before.
The leak also hints at other premium upgrades for the device, such as a 6.9-inch display, 12GB RAM, a new A20 Pro chip, vapor chamber cooling, and Apple’s C2 modem. The Pro Max could also get a new transparent anti-reflective coating and redesigned camera control buttons.
If confirmed, the variable aperture would be a major leap in iPhone photography, giving users more creative freedom and helping Apple compete with high-end Android phones that already feature similar technology. The iPhone 18 series is expected to launch in 2026 with iOS 27.
