Massive Camera Upgrade Planned for iPhone 18 Pro
A major report has emerged from South Korea. News source ETNews claims big camera plans. They report the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will get a huge upgrade. These models are expected to feature a main camera. This main camera will use a Variable Aperture system. This marks the biggest camera change. It is the most significant iPhone upgrade in years. This new feature will replace the current main Wide camera. The Ultra-Wide and Telephoto cameras remain.
The Power of Variable Aperture Technology
Variable aperture allows a camera to control light. It offers flexible control over light volume. The light reaches the image sensor more effectively. The aperture opens wide in low light. This lets in more light. It prevents excessively dark images. Conversely, the aperture closes in bright light. This prevents overexposed images. Variable aperture also controls depth of field. This is a crucial feature for photographers. It allows users to blur the background beautifully. This is perfect for portrait shots. It also helps capture detail in one shot. Both foreground and background can be crisp.
Enhancing the Professional Photography Experience
This upgrade elevates the photo experience. It pushes the iPhone closer to professional cameras. LG Innotek and Foxconn will handle production. They will produce the main camera modules. The mechanism for adjusting the aperture is complex. The Actuator component will come from China. This includes Luxshare ICT and Sunny Optical. This strategy diversifies the supply chain. It increases flexibility for parts sourcing.
Apple’s First Dive into Variable Aperture
This marks a major first for Apple. The company has not used this technology before. The Pro models, from iPhone 14 through 17, use a fixed aperture. They have consistently used an f/1.78 aperture. Rival company Samsung used this technology before. Their Galaxy S9 and S10 models had it. These were released between 2018 and 2019. However, Samsung later removed the feature. Reasons included increased device thickness and higher cost.
Anticipated Launch and Industry Shift
This information aligns with a previous report. The report came from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. He also noted the iPhone 18 Pro will have this feature. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 series soon. The launch will be in the Autumn of 2026. It is set to debut alongside the iPhone Air 2. Furthermore, Apple’s first foldable phone is also expected. If this news is confirmed, it is a significant move. It is a major step for Apple in smartphone photography. This upgrade moves the iPhone further. It changes it from a good camera phone. It moves it to a true camera that can also make calls.
