Ming-Chi Kuo Archives ~ My Mobile India

Highlights Kuo believes iPhone 18 in 2026 will get variable aperture camera. It will significantly improve camera performance in different lighting conditions. No launch date or other details about iPhone 18 are out yet iPhone 18 Pro might get variable camera aperture. (Image credit - Apple) We just saw the iPhone 16 series launch and rumours about the next iPhone 17 have started giving us a sneak peak of what’s coming from Apple in 2025. If you thought the Apple world of rumours will settle at that, you thought wrong. While there is no iPhone 17 on sight as of now, word is already leaking about iPhone 18. A recent report suggested some key details about iPhone 18 Pro and it got the online tech rightfully community excited. Trusted supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is known for correctly predicting aspects of future Apple lineups several times, recently shared that the Cupertino giant is planning a significant camera upgrade for iPhones in 2026. According to Kuo, Apple is developing a variable aperture lens for iPhone 18 Pro, expected to hit the streets in 2026. Assuming Kuo is right about this like he is most of the time, we will be seeing such tech on an iPhone for the first time. In his recent blog post that talked about Apple’s supply chain relationships as the company is in the process of developing iPhone 17 and iPhone 18, Kuo wrote, “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. My latest industry survey indicates Sunny Optical will be the primary shutter supplier (with Luxshare as secondary) and the second variable aperture lens supplier (after Largan Precision).” Variable aperture allows main camera lens to physically adjust its aperture size (opening) and control the amount of light reaching the camera sensor. Sunny Optical’s Apple lens orders are gradually recovering from 2H24, with an estimated market share of about 5% in 2024. This tech in iPhones will provide significant improvements in low-light photography, offer enhanced depth of field control and overall more versatility in photography across different environment and lighting conditions. While Kuo is a solid source to believe possibilities for future Apple products, this is not the first time we are hearing about Apple adding variable aperture in iPhones. Previously we have had The Information also reporting that Apple was working on getting the a variable aperture lens to iPhones. The only difference in the recent Kuo prediction and what The Information suggested is that according to the later, the camera upgrade plans were for one of the iPhone 17 model in 2025. However, now with Kuo prediction, it appears that either Apple has changed its plan or the camera upgrade has been delayed to iPhone 18 due to some other production challenge. In any case, we expect since word is out, more details will emerge on this sooner or later. Anyhow, this has Apple fans excited and talking for now. FAQs Q1. What significant camera upgrade is expected for the iPhone 18 Pro in 2026? Answer. Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that the iPhone 18 Pro in 2026 will feature a variable aperture camera, significantly enhancing the user photography experience. Q2. What advantage does the variable aperture camera provide? Answer. Variable aperture allows the main camera lens to adjust its aperture size, improving low-light photography, depth of field control, and overall versatility in different environments. Q3. When is iPhone 18 coming out? Answer. The iPhone 18 is expected to be released in 2026. However, no specific launch date has been announced yet. Also Read : Apple’s 2nm Chips Will Be Exclusively for iPhone 18 Pro, Suggests Kuo Also Read : iPhone 18 Pro Rumored to Feature 2TB Storage with New QLC Flash Technology Also Read : iPhone Under-Screen Face ID Delay