{"id":272845,"date":"2026-02-07T21:21:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T21:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/272845\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T21:21:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T21:21:07","slug":"apple-testing-two-major-iphone-18-pro-camera-upgrades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/272845\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple Testing Two Major iPhone 18 Pro Camera Upgrades"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Apple is actively testing two major rear camera improvements for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/guide\/iphone\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">iPhone<\/a>, according to a reputable leaker.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/iphone-17-cameras-zoom.jpg\"   alt=\"iphone 17 cameras zoom\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1126\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1018421\"\/><br \/>The Weibo user known as &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/guide\/digital-chat-station\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Digital Chat Station<\/a>&#8221; claims that Apple is testing a new main camera for the \u200ciPhone\u200c with a variable aperture. A variable aperture allows the camera to adjust the amount of light that reaches the sensor. This means that in dark environments, the aperture can be opened to receive more light, while in light environments, it can be closed to prevent over-exposure. It also should provide users with greater control over depth of field, which refers to how sharp a subject appears in the foreground compared to the background.<\/p>\n<p>The claim corroborates a multitude of previous rumors that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/roundup\/iphone-18\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">iPhone 18<\/a> Pro and \u200ciPhone 18\u200c Pro Max will feature an upgraded main camera with a variable aperture. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2024\/12\/23\/iphone-18-pro-rumored-camera-upgrade\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">December 2024<\/a>, Apple supply chain analyst <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/guide\/ming-chi-kuo\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ming-Chi Kuo<\/a> was first to say that that the main rear camera on both \u200ciPhone 18\u200c Pro models will offer variable aperture. A more recent report from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/10\/15\/iphone-18-pros-major-camera-upgrade\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">October 2025<\/a> said Apple was moving ahead with plans to bring the technology to next-generation iPhones and was discussing components with suppliers. <\/p>\n<p>Apple has never used a variable aperture on an \u200ciPhone\u200c camera before. The main cameras on all of the \u200ciPhone\u200c 14 Pro through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/roundup\/iphone-17-pro\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">iPhone 17 Pro<\/a> models have a fixed aperture of \u0192\/1.78, and the lens is always fully open and shooting with this aperture. Samsung Electronics previously brought a variable aperture camera to its Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S10 models in 2018 and 2019, but due to increased thickness and high price, it dropped the feature in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>Secondly, the leaker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/10\/27\/iphone-18-pro-variable-aperture-camera\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">reiterated<\/a> their claim that that Apple is testing a new telephoto camera with a larger aperture for the \u200ciPhone 18\u200c Pro. The \u200ciPhone 17 Pro\u200c models feature a telephoto camera with an \u0192\/2.8 aperture. While the camera was upgraded to a 48-megapixel sensor, which was a substantial improvement over the 12-megapixel sensor used on previous generations, it retained the same aperture size. A larger aperture on the \u200ciPhone\u200c&#8217;s telephoto camera would primarily improve light gathering, noise performance, shutter speed, and background separation.<\/p>\n<p>Other rumors suggest that the \u200ciPhone 18\u200c Pro models could also gain a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2026\/01\/28\/iphone-18-pro-teleconverter-variable-aperture\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">teleconverter<\/a> to increase effective focal length and improve zoom reach, as well as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/11\/07\/iphone-18-lineup-24mp-selfie-cameras\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">24-megapixel front-facing camera<\/a>. They are expected to launch in the fall alongside the first foldable \u200ciPhone\u200c. <\/p>\n<p>Popular Stories<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2026\/02\/03\/ios-26-3-and-ios-26-4-features\/\" class=\"related\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone<\/a><\/p>\n<p>While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April.&#13;Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far.&#13;iOS 26.3&#13;iPhone to Android Transfer Tool&#13;iOS 26.3 makes it easier&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2026\/02\/03\/apple-second-biggest-acquisition\/\" class=\"related\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Apple Makes Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Apple recently acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to Financial Times sources. That would make this Apple&#8217;s second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014.&#13;This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel&#8217;s smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019&#8230;.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2026\/02\/05\/tim-cook-teases-apple-50th-anniversary\/\" class=\"related\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple&#8217;s Upcoming 50th Anniversary<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026.&#13;&#8221;I&#8217;ve been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment,&#8221; Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg&#8217;s Mark Gurman. &#8220;When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart &#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2026\/02\/04\/apple-refurbished-iphone-16-and-16-pro\/\" class=\"related\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Apple Begins Selling Refurbished iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Models at Lower Prices<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Apple today began selling certified refurbished iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max models on its online store in the U.S., with prices discounted by 12% to 22% compared to Apple&#8217;s current or former pricing for the devices.&#13;Here were Apple&#8217;s starting prices when the devices launched in September 2024:&#13;  iPhone 16: $799&#13;  iPhone 16 Plus: $899&#13;  iPhone 16 Pro:&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2026\/02\/04\/upcoming-apple-tv-shows-and-movies\/\" class=\"related\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Apple TV Announces 12 New Shows and Films Coming This Year<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Apple on Tuesday previewed 12 new shows and films that will be premiering on the Apple TV streaming service throughout 2026.&#13;The new series:&#13;&#13;  Imperfect Women \u2014 March 18, 2026&#13;  Margo&#8217;s Got Money Troubles \u2014 April 15, 2026&#13;  Widow&#8217;s Bay \u2014 April 29, 2026&#13;  Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed \u2014 May 20, 2026&#13;  Cape Fear \u2014 June 5, 2026&#13;  Lucky \u2014 July 15, 2026&#13;&#13;The new films:&#13;&#13;  Eternity \u2014 &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Apple is actively testing two major rear camera improvements for the iPhone, according to a reputable leaker. The&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":221773,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[88916,373,44528,111,139,69,145],"class_list":{"0":"post-272845","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-technology","8":"tag-digital-chat-station","9":"tag-featured","10":"tag-iphone-18","11":"tag-new-zealand","12":"tag-newzealand","13":"tag-nz","14":"tag-technology"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=272845"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272845\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/221773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=272845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=272845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=272845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}