Apple is rumored to be bringing variable aperture technology to the iPhone 18's main camera in 2026. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Sunny Optical will likely be the primary supplier of this technology, which was previously featured in Samsung's Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus.
Samsung introduced variable aperture in 2018, but it didn't provide a significant competitive advantage and was later abandoned. Apple is known for adopting technologies later than competitors, often prioritizing delivering the best possible implementation.
"One major upgrade for the 2026 high-end iPhone 18 is the wide-camera lens upgrading to a variable aperture camera...Sunny Optical will be the primary shutter supplier..." - Ming-Chi Kuo
Kuo highlights Sunny Optical's experience designing and manufacturing variable aperture cameras for Android phones as a key factor in their selection as a supplier.
It's unclear which iPhone 18 models will feature the variable aperture lens. Other rumored upgrades for the 2026 iPhone lineup include 2nm chipsets (potentially not in all models due to cost) and the possible addition of Samsung to Apple's camera sensor supply chain.
Source: Ming-Chi Kuo
