While the iPhone Fold is almost certain to be the most curiosity-inducing iPhone expected this fall, the iPhone 18 Pro Max continues to hold a special position.

Because of the inherent constraints of a foldable design, the iPhone Fold is unlikely to accommodate a truly top-tier camera system. For those who prioritize photography above all else, the most premium “traditional” iPhone - the iPhone 18 Pro Max - will almost certainly remain the safer choice, even if its exterior design does not appear radically different.

And although the outside of the iPhone 18 Pro Max is rumored to stay largely similar to its predecessor, Apple seems to be preparing a series of notable internal camera upgrades, enough to capture the attention of serious iPhone photographers.

Variable aperture: A major step for mobile photography

For more than a year, the tech world has repeatedly discussed the possibility that Apple would equip at least one high-end iPhone with a variable aperture lens, most likely the Pro Max version.

That prediction did not materialize on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Yet the rumor has not faded. On the contrary, it has resurfaced with greater momentum and appears increasingly credible.

A variable aperture allows the camera to adjust the amount of light entering the sensor, giving users finer control over depth of field.

Currently, every photo taken with the iPhone’s main camera uses a fixed f/1.78 aperture. While this simplifies the shooting experience, it also limits creative flexibility.

If Apple truly brings variable aperture to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, users would be able to deliberately narrow or widen depth of field, creating more natural background blur even without Portrait mode. This is a feature long valued by professional photographers.

Well-known supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was among the first to seriously mention this upgrade in late 2024. He indicated that Apple’s high-end 2026 iPhone lineup - the iPhone 18 series - would feature a variable aperture main camera, significantly enhancing the photography experience.

More recently, the Weibo source Digital Chat Station reinforced the claim, stating that Apple is testing a main camera with variable aperture alongside a telephoto lens featuring a larger aperture.

According to this source, current iPhone prototypes have already incorporated these changes for real-world evaluation.

It remains unclear whether the upgrade will appear on both iPhone 18 Pro models or be reserved exclusively for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, a strategy Apple has previously applied to certain advanced camera features.

Improved telephoto lens: Better zoom in low light

Beyond the main camera, Apple is also reportedly focusing on improving the telephoto lens, an area where iPhones have often been seen as less dominant, particularly in low-light conditions.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max currently uses a telephoto lens with an f/2.8 aperture. If the iPhone 18 Pro Max adopts a telephoto lens with a wider aperture, light-gathering capability would increase significantly.

That improvement could translate into sharper zoom shots at night, with reduced noise and greater detail - areas where iPhones have sometimes lagged behind certain Android competitors.

A wider aperture would also create a shallower depth of field, enabling more natural background blur even without activating Portrait mode.

For now, however, sources have not specified how wide the new telephoto aperture might be.

A meaningful evolution, not a radical overhaul

Overall, for those particularly invested in iPhone photography, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is gradually shaping up to be a worthwhile upgrade to anticipate.

Based on current information, this may not be a complete transformation. Yet with the potential addition of variable aperture, an improved telephoto camera, a smaller Dynamic Island and possibly new color options, the iPhone 18 Pro Max would be difficult to dismiss as an uninspiring release.

It is worth noting that Digital Chat Station, like many Weibo-based leakers, does not maintain a flawless track record. Nevertheless, the variable aperture rumor is far from new and has surfaced repeatedly from multiple sources over an extended period.

As early as 2024, predictions suggested the feature would debut on the iPhone 17. Later, in November 2024, Ming-Chi Kuo reiterated the claim, this time explicitly linking it to the iPhone 18.

Since then, the information has continued to circulate, becoming one of the most prominent expectations surrounding the iPhone 18 Pro Max lineup.

Hai Phong