Exclusive: Diagnostics log confirms iPhone 18 Pro Max camera specs ahead of launch

A diagnostics log, part of the trove of internal Tata Electronics files leaked online in June by the ransomware group World Leaks, adds new confirmation to a camera sensor swap on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which was reported by us on July 2. The log confirms variable aperture support on the new main sensor through a calibration block, and details the rest of the camera array.

The log confirms a new main sensor, a Sony IMX905, replacing the sensor used in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Pixel size is unchanged at 1.22μm, suggesting the upgrade is centered on the variable aperture addition rather than sensor size. The log confirms variable aperture support on this sensor, backed by a calibration block that reads actuator data tied to the aperture mechanism from the sensor's non-volatile memory. Variable aperture is already available on flagship phones from other phone manufacturers, so the feature would mark a first for iPhone rather than the industry.

The telephoto (Sony IMX973), ultrawide (Sony IMX972), LiDAR receiver (Sony IMX591), and selfie camera (Sony IMX914) all carry over unchanged from the iPhone 17 Pro Max according to the log. The telephoto sensor's 0.7μm native pixels bin up to 1.4μm, with stabilization listed as a 3-axis spherical actuator for gimbal-style OIS, consistent with the prior generation.

Apple has never commented on the leak. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to launch alongside the rest of the iPhone 18 lineup in September 2026. As previously reported, Apple may raise the Pro Max's price by an average of $200, driven partly by higher camera and memory production costs.