iPhone 18 Pro camera upgrade could cost Apple 50% more

Apple’s next Pro iPhones may carry a pricier camera system than was previously expected.

Supply-chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will use an all-new variable-aperture lens that costs Apple about 50% more than the camera unit used in current models, according to reporting from MacRumors.

Kuo’s latest note also says Sunny Optical has secured component orders for two OpenAI devices, including a smartphone and a pocket-sized mobile device.

The variable-aperture feature would be a notable shift for Apple.

In simple terms, it would let the camera physically adjust how much light reaches the sensor, giving users more control over exposure and depth of field.

MacRumors says the iPhone 18 Pro models are now widely expected to include the feature, which Apple has never previously used on an iPhone.

The cost increase does not necessarily mean a retail price jump, at least not yet.

In March, Kuo said Apple was still likely to try to keep iPhone 18 Pro pricing steady despite rising component costs, and Jeff Pu later backed that view, saying the starting prices for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could remain at $1,099 and $1,199, respectively, or rise only slightly.

The camera rumor is part of a broader wave of iPhone 18 Pro leaks.

Other reports point to a smaller Dynamic Island, Apple’s A20 chip, a new C2 modem, longer battery life, and a redesigned Camera Control button.

The devices are still expected to arrive in the fall of 2026, alongside Apple’s first foldable iPhone.

For Apple, the bigger question is whether the added camera expense becomes a margin pressure point or a marketing advantage.

A more advanced lens could help the company sharpen the Pro line’s camera lead, especially if rivals continue to push computational photography and hardware-based zoom upgrades.

For now, though, the 50% figure is still a supply-chain estimate tied to an unreleased product, not a confirmed Apple spec sheet.