Kuo reiterates variable aperture lens coming to iPhone 18, not 17

There are consistent reports that we can look forward to the future iPhone Variable aperture lenses will be available in a year or two, but there’s no word on whether this new feature will be available in iphone 17 or iPhone 18.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said that the iPhone 18 will receive a major camera upgrade, and information Instead, he pointed to the iPhone 17.

Variable aperture lens

you can find Detailed explanations and examples In our previous explanation, but the executive summary of the main benefit is the ability to control the depth of field (DoF) in your photos.

You use shallow depth of field when you want to isolate your subject from the background; you use medium depth of field when you want to isolate while making sure the background is still discernible; you use deep depth when you want everything in the shot to be in focus Depth of field.

Portrait mode does this artificially, and the latest versions are very good, but variable aperture lenses do it optically, which gives better results – but there’s an issue I’ll get to in a moment.

we have met Some Ability to control degrees of freedom Through the 5x telephoto lens Available in iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro models. But that’s because longer focal lengths inherently reduce depth of field.

You can also achieve an optically shallow depth of field by placing the camera very close to the subject, as shown in the image above.

But variable aperture lenses offer more control in more situations.

iPhone 17 or iPhone 18

A report comes from information Suggest new features back in the summer Will arrive next year.

According to The Information, “at least one” iPhone 17 model next year will include a significant camera upgrade to control aperture size “through a mechanical system.”

However, Guo said last month it would instead Will be launched in iPhone 18.

A major upgrade of the 2026 high-end iPhone 18 is the upgrade of the wide-angle lens to a variable aperture camera, which significantly improves the user’s photography experience. My latest industry research shows that Sunny Optical will become the main shutter supplier (Luxshare Precision is second) and the second variable aperture lens supplier (after Largan).

Guo’s latest report today Double that time frame.

The iPhone 18 Pro’s wide-angle camera will be upgraded to a variable aperture in 2026.

9to5Mac’s Opinion

One issue I mentioned before is sensor size.

Apple needed to invent an artificial portrait mode because smartphone photos tend to have everything The focus is sharp – that is, they have a very deep depth of field. This is a direct function of the very small sensors they use. Even with very wide aperture lenses, the small sensor means limited control over depth of field.

Therefore, any mechanical aperture control will need to be coupled to a larger sensor to provide meaningful benefits. Apple did it Increase sensor size In the iPhone 16, some suggested it might do so again in the iPhone 18, although these reports It’s still vague so far.

Regardless, this tells us that Apple is still very focused on delivering improved camera features.

Photo: 9to5Mac