The iPhone 18 series is not expected to launch until September 2026, but details of the lineup have already started to appear online. Recently, TF Securities International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple will introduce a major camera upgrade in the iPhone 18 series, installing an updated main camera with a variable aperture. The iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to be the first to get this feature. Apple’s competitors, such as Samsung and Xiaomi, offer the same feature on their smartphones, which is initially rumored to appear in the iPhone 17 line.
Apple plans to significantly upgrade the iPhone 18 Pro camera in 2026
In a post on Medium, Kuo spoke about his expectations for the iPhone 18 series. The analyst says the high-end models in the 2026 smartphone lineup will feature a new variable-aperture main camera that will “significantly improve the photography experience.” Kuo doesn’t name the phones, but the 2026 timeline suggests it will be the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Kuo shared details of the upgraded camera while analyzing Sunny Optical’s financial outlook for the coming years: “My latest industry review shows that Sunny Optical will be the primary shutter supplier (with Luxshare as a secondary) and the second variable aperture lens supplier (after Largan). Accuracy),” he added.
Apple was previously rumored to add a variable aperture lens to at least one iPhone 17 model in 2025. Kuo’s latest statement seems to suggest that this update will happen in a year. With all that in mind, the iPhone 18 and iPhone 17 series are still a few months away, and we can expect new expectations for the lineup’s camera capabilities to emerge online in the coming months.
Basic variable aperture cameras adjust the size of the aperture to control the amount of light reaching the camera’s sensor, which aids in low-light shooting. It provides improved depth of field.
Samsung introduced the variable aperture feature for the main camera back in 2018 with the Galaxy S9 series. Smartphones like Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Oppo R17 Pro and Honor Magic 6 Pro offer similar features.