A Chinese leaker says the iPhone 18 Pro Max will exclusively receive a variable-aperture camera, contradicting earlier reports that the feature would arrive on both iPhone 18 Pro models.
Ice Universe posted on Weibo that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will “exclusively feature a variable aperture,” adding that “Looks like even Apple can’t escape the reality that if you want the absolute best camera experience, you’ll have to put up with a phone that weighs like a brick.”
iPhone 18 Pro Max camera details
Support for a variable-aperture system on the Pro Max was previously indicated by a June leak of internal files from Apple supplier Tata Electronics, which showed the iPhone 18 Pro Max would use a new Sony IMX905 sensor with variable aperture support. The leaked file did not mention the smaller iPhone 18 Pro, but it was not clear whether that omission meant the feature would be absent from the smaller model or simply not included in the leaked documents.
Apple has never shipped a variable-aperture lens on an iPhone. From the iPhone 14 Pro through the iPhone 17 Pro, the main camera has used a fixed ƒ/1.78 aperture that remains fully open during capture.
A variable aperture could allow users to change the aperture similarly to a DSLR, potentially offering more control over depth of field for sharper subject focus or smoother background blur. How Apple would implement the system—whether offering manual controls or relying on automated adjustments—remains unspecified.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is also rumored to be larger and heavier than its predecessor; beyond the aperture rumor, it is expected to be otherwise equivalent to the smaller Pro model. The last time Apple differentiated Pro models in camera hardware was with the iPhone 15 Pro, which lacked the tetraprism telephoto lens included on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Both iPhone 18 Pro models are reported to be set to launch next month alongside Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the “iPhone Ultra.”
