iPhone 18 Pro Max may be the only model to get variable aperture

Apple could reserve one of the iPhone 18 lineup’s biggest camera upgrades for the Pro Max, according to a new leak from Ice Universe.

The leaker claims the iPhone 18 Pro Max will “exclusively feature a variable aperture,” contradicting earlier reports that put the feature on both Pro models.

There may already be some evidence to back that up. Internal documents from Apple supplier Tata Electronics, leaked in June, reportedly referenced a new Sony IMX905 sensor with variable aperture support for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The smaller Pro was not mentioned in the same files.

If accurate, it would mark the first time Apple has brought variable aperture to an iPhone. The technology physically adjusts the lens opening to control how much light reaches the sensor and how much of a scene stays in focus, much like on a conventional camera. Apple’s Pro iPhones have used a fixed f/1.78 aperture since the iPhone 14 Pro.

Ice Universe also took a jab at the possible Pro Max exclusivity, suggesting that anyone who wants Apple’s best camera will once again have to accept a heavier phone.

There is precedent for Apple keeping its biggest camera upgrade exclusive to the larger model. The iPhone 15 Pro Max launched with a 5x tetraprism telephoto camera that the smaller iPhone 15 Pro did not get.

Otherwise, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to be largely similar, with the Pro Max reportedly getting bigger and heavier than its predecessor. Both are expected to debut in September alongside Apple’s first foldable iPhone.