Apple’s Pro and Pro Max iPhones have shared the same cameras and chips for nearly ten years. The main differences have usually been screen size and battery life.
However, reports suggest this could change with the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The larger model may get a camera feature that the standard Pro will not have. Earlier reports suggested that this upgrade would come to both Pro models, following Apple’s usual pattern of sharing camera improvements across the lineup.
What is a variable aperture camera?
Reports indicate that the iPhone 18 Pro Max could be the only model to feature a variable-aperture camera. The claim was shared on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. However, Apple has not confirmed it.
A variable aperture allows the camera to adjust how much light reaches the sensor. As a result, users can have more control over exposure and depth of field. This type of feature is more commonly associated with dedicated cameras than smartphones.
Both phones are still expected to have nearly the same specifications. These could include the A20 Pro chip, a 48MP triple-camera system, 12GB of memory and storage options of up to 2TB.
If the variable aperture is limited to the Pro Max, it could become the main feature separating the two models.
Moreover, Apple has used a similar strategy before. The company kept the 5x telephoto camera exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max before later bringing the feature to the smaller Pro model.
However, Apple has not officially announced these details yet. Both iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to launch together next month. Reports also suggest that Apple’s first foldable device, referred to as the iPhone Ultra, could launch alongside them.
Therefore, buyers hoping to get the same camera features on the smaller iPhone 18 Pro may need to wait for Apple’s September event for official confirmation.
Also read: iPhone 18 Pro Release Date: What Apple Has Confirmed So Far