iPhone 18 Pro’s Variable Aperture: Uncertain Future or Game-Changing Feature?

Will the iPhone 18 Pro Max Have Exclusive Features Not Found in the iPhone 18 Pro?

The iPhone 18 Pro Max might exclusively feature a variable aperture objective, potentially leaving the standard iPhone 18 Pro without this enhancement. This speculation isn’t fresh news as it was first brought up by Ice Universe on August 19. However, the uncertainty has been echoed by Mark Gurman, a journalist for Bloomberg who is considered one of the most well-informed sources in the tech sector. In his recent writings about the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, Gurman notes: “Both models will see upgrades in their camera systems, including a mechanical aperture for more precise control of lighting and depth of field, at least on the Pro Max model.”

As previously discussed a couple of weeks ago, Apple has a history of equipping its Pro Max model with features that are not included in the standard Pro version. A notable example was with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which featured a 5x periscopic telephoto lens, in contrast to the iPhone 15 Pro that was equipped with a more traditional telephoto lens with only a 3x zoom capability. The following year, the iPhone 16 Pro inherited the periscopic telephoto lens. Will history repeat itself with the new mechanical diaphragm lens? With the Apple Event on September 9 just around the corner, the question remains open.