Apple is said to be working on a new mechanical system that would physically adjust the camera’s aperture on at least one model of the iPhone 17 lineup next year, reports The Information.
The rumored system would allow for a physical adjustment of the camera’s aperture size for the first time on an iPhone. The aperture’s size controls the amount of light that hits the camera sensor. In addition, it also plays an important role in determining the quality of a photo’s depth-of-field and how focused the subject is compared to the blurred background.
The mechanical system should dramatically improve the quality of Portrait Mode images captured on the iPhone, making them appear more lifelike and natural. The bokeh effect would be the result of physical changes in the lens itself instead of being simulated via software effects as it’s done today.
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Mechanical aperture adjustment systems are not new to smartphones, with the Samsung Galaxy S9 lineup, released in 2018, being the first to offer such a system. However, Samsung removed the variable system in recent Galaxy flagships, reverting to a fixed aperture arrangement.
The Information adds that the variable aperture is likely to be limited to a single iPhone 17 model when it is announced next year. This could be referring to the iPhone 17 Slim, which is said to be a completely new flagship iPhone sitting above the Pro Max series and offering other exclusive changes.
