Photography is an important element of the iPhone and developments are regular over the generations, without necessarily seeking to integrate the very latest new features.
The analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that a new feature will arrive in future generations of iPhone. It is already found in a small number of high-end smartphones with the effect of limiting the number of photo modules physically present on board mobile devices.
The variable aperture lens, the iPhone’s next photo innovation
This new feature is the photo module with variable aperture optic which can already be found on certain models in the range Xiaomi 14 but also in premium smartphones from other manufacturers.
The lens does not offer a fixed focal length like most mobile photo sensors but several values or a range of aperture values. This avoids having to have multiple sensors just to achieve the right focal length and brings versatility to the modules.
Photo with variable aperture could land on iPhones in 2026predicted Ming-Chi Kuo, and theiPhone 18 (Pro?) would therefore be the first to benefit from it. The analyst indicates from his sources in the supply chains that Sunny Optical will be the main supplier for the shutter and Largan Precision that of lenses with variable aperture.
Make the photo module more versatile
Adding variable aperture could improve photo quality in low light while providing more effective bokeh (background blur) effects. More generally, the photo sensor can adapt to a wider range of light conditions.
This functionality was also anticipated from the iPhone 17 but the analyst, often well informed, is counting on a longer integration time which would therefore delay its presence in iPhones by a year.
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