Apple Begins Production of Variable Aperture Camera for iPhone 18 Pro

12 articles · Updated · 9to5Mac · Apr 16

Production has begun on variable aperture camera components for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models.
Chinese supplier Sunny Optical is manufacturing the key actuators, with LG Innotek set to assemble camera modules from June or July.
This marks the first time Apple will offer hardware-based variable aperture in an iPhone, promising enhanced control over light and depth of field.

How will the iPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture system impact battery life, durability, and repairability compared to previous models?

Will Apple's variable aperture camera truly outperform current AI-based solutions and rival phones in real-world photography?

Will the variable aperture feature be available on both iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, or exclusive to one model?

What supply chain or environmental challenges could arise from introducing new camera components at scale?

Are hardware upgrades like variable aperture still essential, or is computational photography now more important for image quality?

Will the rumored foldable iPhone's thin design and lack of Face ID affect user security and overall experience?