Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max camera is rumoured to gain a 48MP Sony IMX905 main sensor with a physical variable aperture. This upgrade may be revealed when the flagship is unveiled at the company’s expected September event.
According to reports, the custom Sony sensor would allow the main lens to mechanically adjust the amount of light entering the camera. This would replace the fixed-aperture approach used on current models.
The variable-aperture system is expected to open wider in low-light conditions and narrow in brighter scenes. This could give users greater control over exposure while improving sharpness across the frame.
Other camera upgrades remain unconfirmed. Both the ultra-wide and telephoto cameras could also use 48MP sensors. As a result, the device could have the same resolution across its rear camera system.
The periscope telephoto camera is also expected to receive unspecified improvements. Meanwhile, the front-facing camera is rumoured to increase to 24MP.
A mechanically adjustable aperture could also change how the phone produces shallow depth-of-field effects. By optically controlling the aperture, the system may rely less on software-generated portrait blur.
Read: iPhone 18 Launch Split Puts Pro Models First in September
Apple has not confirmed the iPhone 18 Pro Max camera specifications. Because of this, the Sony IMX905 sensor, variable aperture system and other camera upgrades should therefore be treated as pre-launch rumours.
