iPhone 18 Pro could be the first iPhone to get a variable aperture — why that matters

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Let there be (adjustable levels of) light

iPhone 18 Pro colors: purple, brown, burgundy
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

There have been a lot of rumors around the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro, but the latest claim has revealed a potential upgrade for the phone that could be a big win for camera fans.

Well-known leaker Digital Chat Station posted on Chinese social network Weibo that Apple is currently working on two big camera upgrades: a variable-aperture main camera and a large-aperture telephoto lens. While DCS doesn’t specify which particular models this upgrade could come for, other rumors might provide an answer.

DCS statement on variable apeture

(Image credit: Digital Chat Station @ Weibo)

Back in 2024, leaker Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that Apple was planning to work on variable aperture rates for the iPhone 18 series. This was later followed up in October 2025, when a Korean report stated that Apple was proceeding with these plans, but only for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, and was in contact with its suppliers for the necessary components. With this in mind, it seems fair to assume that the upgrades mentioned by DCS are the same.

What does a variable aperture actually do?

iPhone 18 Pro concept design from Aptenod on YouTube

(Image credit: Aptenod / YouTube)

The idea behind a variable aperture is simple - It allows a device to control how much light reaches the built-in camera sensor. How wide the aperture opens is represented by an f-stop number, with lower numbers meaning a larger opening, and vice versa. So, if you’re in dark conditions, the aperture will open so the sensor can receive more light, and close in bright conditions. This allows for more detailed, better-lit images.

This is commonly found on DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, but this tech is far less prevalent on smartphones. Also, phones that do feature a variable aperture often do not offer free control over the aperture. Instead, the devices allow the phone to adjust between two presets. For instance, the Honor Magic 7 Pro offers f/1.4 and f/2.0 aperture modes for its main camera. While that's not a lot of choice, that’s still more than the iPhone 17 series, or any of the other best camera phones we've tested have. These all use cameras with locked apertures instead.

Apple isn’t the only company looking into the technology, as there are rumors that Samsung has been working on the upgrade for the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra. Interestingly, the Korean company was one of the first to actually feature a two-stop variable aperture on mainstream phones, with the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S10. However, this was later dropped on the Galaxy S20 series and later to allow Samsung to focus on larger, higher-resolution sensors.

While the rumor concerning variable camera apertures has been around a while, Apple is well known for keeping any changes close to its chest. For now, we can only wait and see what Apple announces when it unveils its next generation of phones.

We’re expecting Apple to showcase the iPhone 18 Pro series alongside the iPhone Fold in September, but in the meantime, let us know what you think about the possibility of advanced cameras in the iPhone 18 Pro series.

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Josh Render
Josh Render
Staff Writer

Josh is a staff writer for Tom's Guide and is based in the UK. He has worked for several publications but now works primarily on mobile phones. Outside of phones, he has a passion for video games, novels, and Warhammer. 

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