{
  "id": 2498422,
  "title": "iPhone 18 Pro Max — I asked pro photographers what they really think of a variable aperture camera",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/iphone-18-pro-max-i-asked-pro-photographers-what-they-really-think-of",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-22T04:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Tom's Guide",
    "slug": "tom-s-guide",
    "url": "https://www.tomsguide.com/phones/iphones/iphone-18-pro-max-i-asked-3-pro-photographers-what-they-really-think-of-a-variable-aperture-camera"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Variable apertures have been a topic of interest for smartphone camera enthusiasts, and now rumors suggest that Apple may introduce this feature to the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max. This technology allows users to control the size of the camera's aperture, which directly impacts the amount of light that reaches the sensor and the background blur in photos. While Samsung previously experimented with a dual-aperture system on their Galaxy S9 and S10, Apple could take the concept further with a more versatile, multi-stage variable aperture system. By giving users true mechanical control over the aperture, the iPhone 18 Pro Max could offer significant advantages for professional photographers, enabling them to capture images with more creative control and improved low-light performance.",
  "summary": "Apple's rumored to bring a variable aperture to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, so I asked professional photographers about the impact of this. Here's what they said.",
  "key_points": [
    "Apple may introduce variable aperture to upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max.",
    "Variable aperture allows control over camera's light intake and background blur.",
    "Feature could benefit professional photographers with creative control and low-light performance."
  ],
  "editors_take": "A potential variable aperture camera on the iPhone 18 Pro Max would give professional photographers more creative control and improved low-light performance, significantly enhancing the phone's appeal to this user group.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}