iPhone 18 Pro: Three new camera upgrades are coming

Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro is rumored to feature three major camera upgrades: a variable aperture main lens, a wider aperture telephoto lens, and pro-focused software features. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman called it the biggest leap in camera hardware in years, with the variable aperture potentially enabling adjustable depth of field and improved low-light performance.

iPhone 18 Pro is just a few months away https://9to5mac.com/2026/05/18/iphone-18-release-date-when-apples-new-model-is-coming/ , and rumors indicate it could bring an especially noteworthy batch of camera upgrades. Here are the three main camera features currently rumored. Camera rumors for iPhone 18 Pro center on three upgrades Every year, Apple makes the iPhone’s cameras better in some way or another. Last year with iPhone 17, the new Center Stage front camera was a big highlight, and iPhone 17 Pro gained a much-improved Telephoto lens. With iPhone 18 Pro, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-06-14/siri-ai-hands-on-review-ios-27-macos-27-details-iphone-fold-touch-macbook wrote this weekend that we’re getting “the biggest leap in camera hardware” in some time. So far, rumors point to three main upgrades: - variable aperture Main camera - wider aperture for Telephoto camera - pro-focused software features Variable aperture might be the single biggest new feature, depending on the implementation details. This camera feature has been rumored for years, but it’s unclear exactly how Apple will utilize it in the user experience. For example, it could enable users to adjust the focus and depth of field for each photo to their liking, opening more stylistic opportunities. Or it might unlock an improved Portrait mode, better low-light shots, improved adaptivity for different types of shots—perhaps all of the above. The Telephoto camera gaining a larger aperture means it should perform better in low light—a current weakness for that specific lens. We don’t have details on new software features, but here’s what Aaron Tilley previously reported https://9to5mac.com/2026/03/21/iphone-18-pro-camera-hardware-may-come-with-pro-software-apple-considered-buying-studio-behind-halide/ for The Information : The camera in Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models will begin to match professional-grade cameras in terms of certain advanced features. As a result, the company is looking to give the built-in camera app on its smartphone an upgrade, people familiar with the effort said. The existing iPhone camera app contains mostly basic controls. Last year Apple introduced a Dual Capture software feature exclusively on its newest iPhones. It sounds like we may see some Pro-exclusive software additions this year. Beyond these changes, the Camera Control button is also expected to get revamped https://9to5mac.com/2026/04/08/iphone-18-pros-rumored-camera-feature-could-prove-that-less-is-more/ this year. What’s on your camera wishlist for iPhone 18 Pro? Let us know in the comments. Best iPhone accessories AirPods Pro 3 https://amzn.to/3Peq3Ge now only $179 , down from $249 MagSafe Car Mount for iPhone https://amzn.to/4tSJYde 10-year AirTag battery case https://amzn.to/4e6O6R2 AirTag 2 https://amzn.to/48BACtL 1-pack https://amzn.to/48BACtL / 4-pack https://amzn.to/3OFX4Lv 100W USB-C fast charging power adapter https://amzn.to/48EbPVU FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. https://9to5mac.com/about/ affiliate our homepage http://9to5mac.com/ for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on exclusive stories https://9to5mac.com/feature/exclusive/ , reviews https://9to5mac.com/guides/review/ , how-tos https://9to5mac.com/guides/how-to/ , and subscribe to our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/9to5mac