Overview
- Well-known leaker Digital Chat Station says Apple is testing a variable-aperture main camera and a larger-aperture telephoto for future iPhones, with prior reports tying the effort to the iPhone 18 Pro models.
- A 2025 Korean report and earlier analysis from Ming-Chi Kuo indicated Apple’s variable-aperture work could be limited to the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, aligning with the latest leak-driven claims.
- ETNews, via SamMobile, reports Samsung has asked suppliers including Samsung Electro-Mechanics and MCNEX to develop variable-aperture components for evaluation.
- SamMobile’s summary of ETNews says the parts could target a future Galaxy S27 in 2027, though timing and adoption remain unconfirmed.
- Variable aperture adjusts how much light reaches the sensor to improve low-light performance and manage exposure, a feature Samsung previously shipped on the Galaxy S9/S10 before dropping it over thickness and cost.