We’re almost a year away from the iPhone 18 lineup, but Apple’s early hardware tests are already making the rounds — and there are a few interesting additions.
The most eye-catching aspect is the camera. Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station claims Apple is deep into testing a variable-aperture main camera for both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Instead of being stuck at f/1.78, the phone would be able to open up for shallow-depth portrait shots and then stop down in bright conditions for more controlled detail.
While this isn’t the first time we’re hearing about this addition, its recurrence from different sources certainly reaffirms the possibility of this feature being included in the upcoming models. According to a previous report from South Korea’s ET News, this camera feature has the highest chance of making the cut for 2026.
According to the tipster, Apple is also testing a hole-punch solution for the front camera on the iPhone 18 Pro models. The company has been exploring under-display solutions as well, and it will be interesting to see if the Face ID system finally sits under the display, leaving a smaller hole-punch cutout for the selfie — similar to what almost all Android phones use.
While the camera layout isn’t changing much — Apple is reportedly sticking with the horizontal “deco” — there could be a much bigger visual twist on the back. The tipster talked about a “transparent” back panel. It’s a sharp departure from the current design language of iPhones.
Apple made some significant changes this year to its Pro iPhones — both in terms of design and functionality — and it will be interesting to see if the company is finally increasing its focus on innovation. Nonetheless, the iPhone 19 series (Apple’s 20th-anniversary iPhone) is also around the corner, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Apple reserves a few groundbreaking changes — like a hole-punch + UDC setup for the front or the transparent back design — for its 20th-anniversary models. More concrete information is expected as development progresses.
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(Source: DCS on Weibo)
