SAN FRANCISCO, January 29, 2026, 01:32 (PST)
- A Weibo leaker says Apple is testing a camera change that could push iPhone 18 Pro zoom further
- Reports say a variable-aperture system is also in late-stage sampling for the Pro models
- A separate leak says the iPhone 18 Pro display cutout could shrink by about 35%
A Chinese social-media leaker says Apple is testing a camera change for the iPhone 18 Pro that could extend optical zoom beyond current models. The claim is unconfirmed, but it has ricocheted across Apple-focused sites.
At the center of it is a “teleconverter,” an optical magnifier used in conventional cameras to increase a lens’s effective focal length — basically more reach, but usually less light. The same chatter also points to “variable aperture,” a lens opening that can widen or narrow to manage light and, in some cases, depth of field.
That matters because the premium smartphone market has turned into a camera contest, and zoom is one of the easiest upgrades to sell in a store demo. It also lands at an awkward time in the cycle, when big hardware swings start colliding with the realities of mass production.
MacRumors reported that the Weibo account “Smart Pikachu” said a variable-aperture camera system had entered late-stage engineering samples and that teleconverters were “under evaluation” for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The site noted Apple can still drop features in testing and said the leaker has a stronger track record on Android than on Apple. (MacRumors)
Supply-chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, writing in 2024, said a variable aperture is slated for Apple’s Pro models: “The iPhone 18 Pro’s wide camera will upgrade to variable aperture in 2026,” he wrote. (Medium)
A separate 9to5Mac report quoted the Weibo post as saying: “The series of variable aperture lenses has been prototyped. Teleconverters are also under evaluation.” It called the teleconverter angle “unlikely” and suggested the wording could be a mistranslation or shorthand for another zoom-related change. (9to5Mac)
AppleInsider said teleconverters can boost zoom but also reduce the light hitting the sensor and can cost sharpness and contrast — the kind of trade-off that shows up fast in low-light shots. The site added that if Apple is still only evaluating the idea, it may not survive into the final device. (AppleInsider)
In smartphones, longer zoom lenses also bring size and durability problems. Rivals such as Samsung Electronics and Google have pushed multi-camera systems and heavy image processing to stretch magnification without turning phones into bricks.
Forbes separately reported that the iPhone 18 Pro display could see its biggest visible tweak in years, citing a leak that the “Dynamic Island” cutout could shrink by roughly 35%. The report said the cutout width could drop from about 20.76 mm to 13.49 mm. (Forbes)
Dynamic Island is Apple’s pill-shaped opening at the top of the screen that houses Face ID sensors and the front camera, while also acting as a software area for alerts and live activities. A smaller cutout would be a front-of-phone change people would actually notice, even if the basic design stays.
But the reports rest on supply-chain chatter and a Weibo account with limited Apple history, and Apple’s internal testing does not guarantee a shipping feature. A teleconverter, in particular, risks adding optical complexity while making low-light performance worse — exactly where buyers tend to judge cameras.
Apple (AAPL.O) has not announced plans for the iPhone 18 and typically does not comment on unannounced products. For now, the rumor has set off the usual argument: meaningful hardware step, or another prototype that never leaves the lab.
