iPhone 18 Pro is a bitter end for DSLR?

While everyone is still eagerly waiting for the iPhone 17, famous analyst Ming-chi Kuo has made bold predictions about the iPhone 18 Pro launching in 2026.

Kuo claims that the phone will feature a variable aperture camera, a feature that promises to deliver a superior photography experience. In his report, he mentioned the concept of 'aperture blades', suggesting that Apple is getting closer to improving its camera technology. According to him, Apple plans to cooperate with BE Semiconductor (BESI) to develop assembly equipment for this feature, which shows the company's strong commitment to improving image quality.

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iPhone 18 Pro will have a super camera.

The variable aperture camera, first introduced on the Galaxy S9 and now available on devices from Huawei, Xiaomi, and HONOR, allows the camera to dynamically adjust the aperture size. This feature improves low-light performance with a wider aperture, while producing sharper photos in bright conditions with a narrower aperture.

If Apple succeeds, users could experience aperture control similar to that of DSLR cameras, making the future of digital camera technology more uncertain than ever. The compact digital camera market has been shrinking as smartphone camera technology has improved. With the iPhone 18 Pro featuring variable aperture camera technology, DSLR models will become less and less attractive.

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All of which will make DSLRs unnecessary.

Currently, current Android devices only allow switching between two aperture settings, which limits the ability to precisely control the amount of light and depth of field. With these plans, Apple could offer users a more flexible and refined photography experience.

In addition to the iPhone 18 Pro, Kuo's report also highlights Apple's ambitious plans for its entire product line. The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to be introduced alongside the M5 chip, which is designed to improve performance for Macs and other systems. Apple's adoption of hybrid interconnect technology in AI and data center applications could help improve performance while saving power.

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