Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models may take a major step toward professional camera territory with the addition of variable aperture technology, according to respected industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
The feature, which would be a first for iPhone, would allow users to manually control the amount of light entering the camera lens - similar to professional DSLR and mirrorless cameras made by Sony and Canon.
This upgrade is expected to come to the 48-megapixel main Fusion camera on both iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models. Current Pro models use a fixed f/1.78 aperture that cannot be adjusted.
Dutch manufacturer BE Semiconductor is reportedly set to supply the mechanical aperture blade assembly equipment needed for this new camera system.
The variable aperture could give users more control over depth of field effects - how sharp a subject appears compared to the background. However, due to the iPhone's relatively small image sensor size, the real-world impact of this feature remains unclear without additional sensor improvements.
While Apple already offers Portrait mode for artificial background blur effects, a variable aperture combined with a potentially larger sensor could enable more natural-looking depth of field control directly through the lens.
Though previously rumored for the iPhone 17 series, Kuo now expects this DSLR-inspired feature to debut with the iPhone 18 Pro lineup when it launches in September 2026.
This early rumor provides an interesting glimpse at Apple's camera ambitions, though plans could still change as development continues over the next two years.