Apple iPhone 18 Pro (Max): Main camera goes into production with major upgrade

While the iPhone 18 Pro, just like the iPhone 17 Pro ($1,249 on Amazon), is said to have three 48-megapixel cameras, rumors have been suggesting for months that the main camera will receive a major upgrade, namely a variable aperture. A report from ETNews now confirms these rumors, because according to sources from Apple's supply chain, Sunny Optical is said to have already started production of the first components for this camera.

The complete camera module is expected to be finished at LG Innotek in about a month. It is quite common for the mass production of many components to begin several months before the launch of a new iPhone. According to ETNews, Apple is producing the main camera a little earlier than usual, as the switch to variable aperture means that complications during production or a higher defect rate cannot be ruled out.

The 48 megapixel main camera of the iPhone 17 Pro has a relatively large 1/1.28 inch sensor, which is combined with a lens with a fixed aperture of f/1.8. A variable aperture has one major advantage in particular - it is possible to close the aperture to achieve a greater depth of field, for example to get a sharp image of everyone in a group photo. Whether the variable aperture also enables better photos in low light depends on the maximum aperture, although no further details are yet known. The Apple iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to be officially unveiled in September.