Apple may be preparing a major hardware change for the main camera of the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Diagnostic information linked to leaked internal Tata Electronics files points to a variable aperture system with a lens opening that can move physically.
The feature would give the camera a way to regulate incoming light before it reaches the image sensor. It could also provide broader control over exposure and depth of field in different lighting conditions.
More Than a Sensor Upgrade
The reported camera hardware is said to include Sony’s IMX905 sensor for the main rear camera. Notebookcheck, cited by Gadgets360, reported that the component could replace the Sony IMX903 48 MP sensor used in the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The new sensor is reportedly still built around a native pixel size of 1.22μm. The more consequential change is the reported variable aperture mechanism rather than the pixel-size figure.
A variable aperture could let the camera adjust how much light enters the lens assembly according to shooting conditions. It may also affect how distinctly a subject can be separated from the background through depth-of-field control.
Calibration Data Suggests a Physical Actuator
The leaked diagnostic log reportedly contains a calibration block with actuator data for the aperture system. This information is said to be stored in the sensor’s non-volatile memory, suggesting that Apple is testing hardware with a movable lens opening.
The same log also reportedly mentions a three-axis spherical actuator for optical image stabilisation, or OIS. That detail indicates that stabilisation remains part of the main-camera development alongside the possible aperture redesign.
| Camera Section | Reported Component | Reported Role |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | Sony IMX905 | Expected to include a variable aperture |
| Telephoto camera | Sony IMX973 | Expected to remain in use |
| Ultra-wide camera | Sony IMX972 | Reportedly used for the wide-angle camera |
| LiDAR | Sony IMX591 | Same receiver as iPhone 17 Pro Max |
| Front camera | Sony IMX914 | Expected to remain in use |
Most Other Camera Parts May Stay the Same
While the main camera may receive the largest revision, the remaining camera arrangement is reportedly expected to change less. The telephoto camera is said to retain the Sony IMX973, while the ultra-wide camera may use the Sony IMX972.
The LiDAR system could continue with the Sony IMX591 receiver found in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Reports also point to the Sony IMX914 remaining in place for the front-facing camera.
A Familiar Smartphone Camera Idea
Variable aperture technology is not new to smartphones, although it has never appeared on an iPhone. Samsung introduced it on the main camera of the Galaxy S9 series in 2018 before removing it from later generations because of space limitations and higher costs.
If Apple’s testing results in a commercial device, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max would be the first iPhones to use the technology. The new report also aligns with earlier claims that both Pro models were being tested with a variable-aperture main camera.
Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 18 series in September, with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Ultra said to be part of the lineup. The reported Sony IMX905 sensor and variable aperture system remain unconfirmed and could change before launch.