All articles tagged with #variable aperture
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will use a new variable-aperture camera lens that is roughly 50% more expensive than the main camera in the iPhone 17 Pro, boosting Apple’s bill of materials. Sunny Optical is ramping up as a CCM supplier, production is underway, and Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro lineup this fall alongside a foldable iPhone, with future modules moving toward COB packaging.
Rumors say the Galaxy S27 Ultra will bring major camera upgrades, including a variable-aperture lens—a callback to the Galaxy S9—along with a 200MP main sensor and LOFIC tech, potentially reshaping dynamic range and removing the existing 3x zoom; details come from a Weibo leaker and industry chatter about rivals like Huawei.
Rumors suggest Samsung's Galaxy S27 Ultra will feature a triple-camera setup led by a 200MP ISOCELL HP6 sensor with a variable aperture, potentially enhanced by LOFIC tech to boost dynamic range; it may switch to crop-based zoom instead of a dedicated 3x telephoto, with front-camera details unconfirmed.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max delivers a major upgrade over the iPhone 17 Pro Max, led by a variable-aperture camera with a larger aperture and a three-layer stacked sensor, enhanced computational photography, and a power-efficient A20 Pro chip built on a 2-nm process with a 5,000 mAh+ battery, plus subtle design tweaks like a taller/wider body and a new dark cherry color; the article frames these changes as a strong upgrade and hints at future foldable, AR, and AI directions.
Hands-on with design dummy units shows a ~25% smaller Dynamic Island (about 14.98 mm) and a thicker camera bump with larger lenses, fueling rumors of a variable aperture for the main 48 MP sensor; the body is slightly taller and wider to accommodate a bigger battery, with existing cases possibly still fitting.
Apple is reportedly planning four future camera upgrades, starting with the iPhone 18 Pro. The first feature includes a variable-aperture main sensor around 1/1.12-inch, along with enhanced optical image stabilization for the ultra-wide and a potential 200-megapixel periscope telephoto lens. Leaks from Digital Chat Station outline these plans, though some details (like the 1/1.12-inch label and 200MP telephoto timing) are based on legacy formats or uncertain timelines and may not ship until 2028 or later.
Leaked details say the iPhone 18 Pro will introduce a DSLR-style, physically variable aperture for true hardware-based exposure and depth control; production has begun with aperture actuators from Sunny Optical and Lux Share ICT and assembly by LG Inotech, with mass production expected by mid-2026, signaling a shift toward hardware-led smartphone photography that could push rivals to adopt similar tech and broaden pro-grade imaging across devices.
Leaks suggest the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will debut a variable-aperture rear camera for improved low-light performance, a first for iPhones, with color rumors pointing to a Dark Cherry finish alongside light blue, dark gray, and silver options; the reports align with Ming-Chi Kuo’s earlier forecast that Apple would add a variable aperture. All details are expected at the September unveiling, potentially alongside the rumored iPhone Fold.
Apple has begun ramping up its supply chain for a variable-aperture main camera expected to debut with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max this fall. Sunny Optical is making the actuators, while LG Innotek plans to start module production by summer, signaling the first iPhone with an adjustable aperture to improve low-light performance and depth of field.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are entering production for a new main camera with a variable aperture—the first for iPhone. Sunny Optical has started producing components, with the full camera module expected to be completed by LG Innotek in about a month, signaling an earlier-than-usual push in manufacturing ahead of a September launch.
Rumors say the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will add a variable-aperture main camera, reviving a feature Samsung dropped years ago and potentially improving low-light performance and depth of field; Samsung is reportedly exploring the tech for Galaxy devices, with additional rumored upgrades (smaller Dynamic Island, A20 chip, longer battery life) and a fall launch alongside Apple’s foldable iPhone.
Rumors suggest Apple may bring back a true, continuously adjustable variable aperture with the iPhone 18 Pro around 2026, reviving Samsung's old Galaxy S9/S10 idea of continuous aperture control and potentially delivering better bokeh and exposure—though gains depend on sensor size and processing; Samsung's S26 Ultra and the iPhone 18 Pro are among the potential beneficiaries.
Apple is reportedly testing two major rear-camera upgrades for the iPhone 18 Pro: a main camera with a variable aperture and a telephoto with a larger aperture (with rumors of a teleconverter as well), plus a rumored 24MP front camera; if real, these would mark Apple’s first variable-aperture iPhone camera and could accompany a fall launch alongside a foldable iPhone.
A Chinese rumor claims the iPhone 18 Pro may include a variable-aperture rear camera and a teleconverter in late-stage engineering samples, with a September 2026 launch anticipated. The teleconverter concept would affect light intake on a smartphone, while the variable aperture could improve exposure control for photos and video. Apple is reportedly evaluating features with suppliers, but such components could still be dropped if they don’t meet quality standards. Previous rumors of a variable aperture for the iPhone 17 did not materialize.
Samsung is likely to reintroduce variable aperture technology in its smartphones, possibly with the Galaxy S27 Ultra in 2027, as a response to Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 series and new foldable form factors, with ongoing experiments on foldable screens and camera features.