iPhone 18 Pro to Get Variable Aperture Camera, Smaller Punch-Hole, and Transparent Back [Rumor]

Apple is planning several key hardware changes for its 2026 iPhone 18 Pro series, including a smaller punch-hole display and a variable aperture main camera, according to a new rumor from leaker Digital Chat Station. The leaker also points to a new transparent back design and a steel-cased battery.

In a post on Weibo, Digital Chat Station claims Apple is testing a new punch-hole design using a special HIAA solution, which could enable a more compact front camera system.


A major camera upgrade is also reportedly being tested — a variable aperture for the main lens — as reported earlier this year, though previous reports suggested the feature could instead arrive on the telephoto camera.

The overall design is expected to retain the large horizontal camera bar seen on the iPhone 17 Pro, while adopting a new transparent back. Additionally, the iPhone 18 Pro Max will reportedly be the first to use a steel-cased battery.

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to debut in fall 2026 and will reportedly be powered by a 2-nanometer A20 chip available in both standard Borneo and higher-end Borneo Ultra versions. It's also rumored to feature Apple's second-generation in-house C2 modem.

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