The iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to arrive with a notable camera distinction, according to circulating pre-launch rumours. Roughly a month ahead of the iPhone 18 Pro premiere, reports describe the update as relatively modest overall, with one significant exception centred on the main camera.
Apple is rumoured to add a variable aperture lens to the main camera, a feature previously seen on the 2018 Galaxy S9. The catch is that this camera upgrade is expected to appear only in the iPhone 18 Pro Max, rather than across both Pro models.
A first since the iPhone 15 Pro line-up
Should the rumour prove accurate, it would mark the first time since the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max that the two Pro models differ in more than just size and battery capacity. Historically, consumers have expected Apple’s top-tier devices to be broadly identical, differentiated primarily by display dimensions.
Previous exceptions have drawn attention. The iPhone 12 Pro Max featured a main camera sensor around 50% larger, along with a longer telephoto camera. Later, the iPhone 15 Pro Max introduced 5x optical zoom on its telephoto camera, while the iPhone 15 Pro offered triple optical zoom. In both cases, buyers frequently chose between the models based on camera capabilities rather than screen size.
The case for an iPhone 18 Ultra
Apple has not consistently maintained these distinctions. A year after each of the examples above, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro matched their Pro Max counterparts in specifications and features, aside from those tied to size. This pattern raises the prospect that some buyers may skip the iPhone 18 Pro and wait for the variable aperture feature to reach the iPhone 19 Pro.
One suggested alternative is for Apple to retire the Pro Max name entirely and introduce an iPhone 18 Ultra. Such a move would create clearer separation between models and position Apple more competitively against rival manufacturers.
On that competitive front, Vivo and Oppo are rumoured to keep the successors to the Vivo X300 Ultra and Oppo Find X9 Ultra exclusive to the Chinese market. Xiaomi, meanwhile, has reportedly cancelled a related Ultra-tier device.
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Image: phonearena.com
