Apple is preparing to make a significant change in the camera hardware in the iPhone 18 Pro series. The company is expected to switch to the variable aperture main camera system, which has been talked about for a long time.

This technological innovation will directly affect not only the photo-taking capabilities of the device but also the back design of the phone. The hardware updates that the new system will bring will also make a visible difference in the camera protrusion of the iPhone series.

Growth expected in camera design

According to the shared information, the camera protrusion on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models will be approximately 2 mm larger compared to the iPhone 17 Pro series. Leaked mock-up models show that the total thickness, including lenses, may increase from 12.92 mm to 13.77 mm.

While the camera island itself is expected to grow, the main reason for this increase is the new variable aperture system and larger sensor structure. The arguments are that Apple will use a new 1/1.12 inch sensor with a resolution of 48 megapixels in the main camera.

While fixed f/1.78 aperture is preferred in current Pro iPhone models, the lens aperture can be physically adjusted if the variable aperture system is switched. This system will provide more controlled depth of field and sharper frames in bright light, while allowing more natural light to be received by the sensor in low light.

New era in photography

The variable aperture structure is seen as an important step not only in terms of light control, but also for more natural background separation and DSLR-like bokeh control. Combined with the large sensor, this technology is expected to significantly increase the iPhone’s portrait and creative shooting capabilities.

However, this hardware change also has some side effects. Considering the difficulties Apple has with close-range focusing with the main camera on current iPhone models, the larger sensor and mechanical diaphragm system could make the lens structure more complex.

Another important detail discussed on the supply chain side is the increase in cost. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the new variable aperture lens system may cost Apple approximately 50 percent more than the current solution.

With this hardware breakthrough, Apple aims to balance the gaps it has been closing with software-based photography for a long time, this time with a stronger hardware infrastructure.

How valuable a difference do you think a variable aperture camera system would make for iPhone users?