According to renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the 2026 Pro model It will make a significant technological leap, allowing the amount of light entering the lens to be adjusted and improving the depth of field in a way that has not been possible in previous models.
What is variable aperture and why is it important?
Until now, the iPhone 14 Pro, 15 Pro and 16 Pro have had a fixed aperture of ƒ/1.78 in their main cameras, limiting the ability to adapt to different lighting conditions. Fixed aperture means that the lens has a single, constant aperture, which is effective in many cases, but also limits creative control over focus and depth of field.
With a variable aperture, the camera will be able to modify the size of the aperture, adjusting according to the amount of light available in every situation. This allows the camera to open more in low light conditions to capture more details, while in good lighting situations, it can be closed to optimize the sharpness of the image.
Additionally, the variable aperture will allow greater control over background blur or “bokeh,” a popular technique that gives a professional look to photos and allows the subject to stand out against a softly blurred background. In this way, one could make a Real Portrait Modewithout the iPhone blurring the background through software.
The ability to adjust the depth of field also makes close-up photos have a much higher level of detail and a much more natural and controlled blur.
The iPhone 18 Pro will take technology to another level
According to Kuo, Apple has chosen Sunny Optical and Largan Precision as key suppliers for this innovation in the iPhone 18 Pro camera. Sunny Optical will be the main supplier of the variable aperture lens, while Luxshare and Sunny Optical will be responsible for the supply of the shutters. Apple, known for working only with the most advanced suppliers, seeks to ensure that this technology delivers the expected performance and is ready for launch on the market in 2026when the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to hit stores.
The arrival of variable aperture represents a major development in the mobile photography industry, a sector in which Apple has led with key innovations in recent years, from the introduction of Portrait mode to the improvement of its LiDAR sensors. This improvement, however, will not only benefit professional photographers, but will allow any user capture high quality images without worrying about lighting conditions.
The incorporation of variable aperture could place the iPhone 18 Pro in a higher league compared to other smartphones on the market. Although brands like Samsung and Huawei have experimented with variable apertures in the past, Apple’s entry into this field could cement this technology as an industry standard. iPhone 18 Pro users will have creative control never before seen on an Apple smartphone, getting closer and closer to the possibilities offered by the professional cameras.
