With the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max set to arrive later this year, the rumor mill has already speculated several key camera upgrades. It has been previously reported that Apple is working to add variable aperture to the iPhone"s main camera, possibly with the iPhone 18 Pro models.
A new post from Weibo leaker "Smart Pikachu" claims that Apple"s variable aperture camera system for iPhone 18 Pro models is now in the sampling stage. In other words, Apple is testing iPhone 18 Pro camera prototypes with a variable aperture.
For the uninitiated, a variable aperture controls how much light reaches the camera sensor, enabling more depth-of-field options and other improvements. If it does end up on the iPhone 18 series this year, it would be new for iPhones but not an industry-first feature.
Samsung was the first to implement a variable aperture camera system in 2019 with the Galaxy S9 series. On a side note, there have been rumors that Samsung could bring back variable aperture with the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
In what is probably the first reported instance, the post further mentions (via MacRumors) that Apple is working on a "teleconverter" for the iPhone"s camera, which is also "under evaluation." A teleconverter is typically used in DSLR cameras to increase the focal length and effective optical zoom.
However, a trade-off here is the loss of light, which Apple might compensate for with the variable aperture if it plans to keep both components. Apple often tests multiple prototypes to figure out what works best for the final model, and the official launch is still about eight months away.
Apple is expected to make upgrades on the front side as well, with under-display Face ID reserved for its flagship iPhones. Noted GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu recently summarized the expected tech specs for the iPhone 18 series in an investor note, corroborating claims of a variable aperture. Apple is said to include 12GB RAM and its C2 modem in the upcoming devices.