iPhone 18 Pro to Revive Feature Samsung Dropped Years Ago
Source: MacRumors
Apple iPhone 18 Pro & iPhone 18 Pro Max – Variable‑Aperture Camera Rumors
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are rumored to bring back a major camera feature that Samsung’s flagship Galaxy phones abandoned years ago: a variable‑aperture main lens.
The image shows a conceptual iPhone camera module with a variable aperture (source: MacRumors).
What’s being reported?
| Date | Source | Key Point |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | Ming‑Chi Kuo (MacRumors) | First claim that the iPhone 18 Pro models will have a variable‑aperture rear camera. |
| October 2025 | MacRumors report | Apple is actively discussing components with suppliers to implement the technology. |
| February 2026 | MacRumors article on Samsung | Samsung is reportedly planning its own variable‑aperture camera in response to Apple’s move. |
How a variable aperture works
- Adjustable blades change the size of the opening, letting more light in for low‑light scenes and less light for bright conditions.
- Depth‑of‑field control improves, allowing photographers to blur backgrounds more effectively when the aperture is wide open.
- Compared with a fixed aperture (e.g., the ƒ/1.78 lens used on iPhone 14 Pro through iPhone 17 Pro), a variable system can optimize exposure and image quality across a wider range of lighting situations.
Historical context
- Samsung Galaxy S9 & S10 (2018‑2019): First major Android phones with a variable‑aperture lens.
- Other Android adopters: Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Honor Magic 7 Pro, Huawei Mate series.
- Why Samsung dropped it: The mechanism added thickness and cost, leading the company to revert to fixed‑aperture designs in 2020.
Samsung’s reaction
- Samsung is reportedly requesting samples from multiple camera‑module partners.
- The goal is to reduce thickness and cost over time while regaining a hardware‑level advantage over software‑only solutions.
- No final decision has been announced, but internal sources describe a “strong will” to bring the feature back to future Galaxy devices.
Other rumored iPhone 18 Pro features
- Smaller Dynamic Island
- A20 processor (next‑gen Apple silicon)
- Longer battery life
- C2 modem (5G)
- Simplified Camera Control button
- N1 wireless chip (Wi‑Fi 7)
- First foldable iPhone slated for the same fall launch
All information is based on publicly available rumors and leaks; Apple and Samsung have not confirmed any of these details.
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