While iPhone Fold is certainly the more interesting iPhone launching this fall, the iPhone 18 Pro will always be important for one reason: cameras. iPhone Fold won’t be able to pack a flagship camera experience, so if that’s something you’re after, you’ll have to settle for the “boring” iPhone 18 Pro.
Despite looking similar on the outside though, there’ll be a number of interesting camera upgrades to look forward to.
Variable aperture
Over the past year or so, there have been numerous rumors about Apple introducing a variable aperture lens on at least one of its new iPhone models, likely the Pro Max. That never came to fruition with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but the rumor is once again in the mill – and its starting to sound more and more likely.
A variable aperture grants the photographer better depth control. Right now, all wide iPhone photos are taken at a fixed focal length of f/1.78. A variable aperture would allow you to narrow your depth of field, potentially giving users more control over the look of their photos.
Ming Chi-Kuo first reported on a variable aperture for iPhone 18 Pro towards the end of the end of 2024:
One major upgrade for the 2026 high-end iPhone 18 is the wide-camera lens upgrading to a variable aperture camera, significantly enhancing the user photography experience.
Now, Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station has reaffirmed that Apple is testing as such, writing that “iPhones are testing a variable aperture main camera + a large aperture telephoto lens.”
It’s unclear if this’ll be available on both iPhone 18 Pro models, or just the Pro Max.
Improved telephoto
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