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Apple has started ramping up its supply chain for a new variable aperture camera system expected to debut in the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max this September, reports Korea's ETNews . Apple has never implemented a variable aperture on an iPhone. From the iPhone 14 Pro through the iPhone 17 Pro, the main camera uses a fixed ƒ/1.78 aperture, meaning the lens remains fully open at all times when capturing images. In contrast, a variable aperture lets the camera control how much light reaches the sensor. In low-light conditions, it opens to admit more light, while in bright scenes, it closes to avoid overexposure. This should also give users more control over depth of field. In December 2024 , Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was first to say that that the main rear camera on both iPhone 18 Pro models will offer variable aperture. A report from October 2025 said Apple was moving ahead with plans to bring the technology to next-generation iPhones and was discussing components with suppliers. According to industry sources cited by today's report, Chinese supplier Sunny Optical has already started producing the actuators that enable the aperture mechanism, while camera module assembly will follow in early summer. Apple's primary camera partner LG Innotek is said to be preparing to begin production around June or July, with dedicated equipment being installed at its Gumi facility in South Korea. Module makers such as Cowell are also expected to take part in the process. LG Innotek is reportedly likely to take on a larger share of production for the main camera module due to the system's added complexity. A similar thing happened when Apple adopted a folded tetraprism zoom lens in the iPhone 15 Pro Max, where LG Innotek initially served as the sole supplier. 10 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 18 Pro The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to be announced alongside Apple's first foldable iPhone sometime around September. Related Roundup: iPhone 18 Pro This article, " iPhone 18 Pro Variable Aperture Camera Enters Production " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Apple retail locations and Apple Authorized Service Providers will soon be able to restore Apple Watch software in-store without needing to send an Apple Watch to a service center, according to a retail source that spoke to MacRumors . Right now, Apple Watches that can't be restored using an iPhone need to be mailed to an Apple Repair Center for service. There is no in-store repair option, so customers have to wait for the Apple Watch to be shipped to the repair depot, get repaired, and be shipped back. Starting later this month, Apple Stores and AASPs will be able to use an Apple Watch repair dock that connects to a Mac to restore the software on an Apple Watch. An in-store option for fixing software will make software-based repairs much quicker. With watchOS 8.5 and iOS 15.4, Apple introduced an iPhone-based wireless restore option , but it is limited. It can only be used when a restore prompt is shown on the Apple Watch. For software issues where the iPhone restore doesn't work, the Apple Watch needs a specialized repair currently unavailable in retail stores. Failed updates, bricked devices, and boot loops can't be fixed with an iPhone. Early Apple Watch models had a diagnostic port that Apple Stores could use for software fixes, but it was removed with the Apple Watch Series 7, and Apple switched to a wireless restoration process. After the port was dropped, Apple Watch software repairs had to be done at Apple Service Centers, making software-based failures a hassle for customers. Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11 Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral) This article, " Apple Stores Will Soon Be Able to Restore Apple Watch Software In-House " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Apple today stopped signing iOS 26.4, so iPhone users who have updated to iOS 26.4.1 are no longer able to downgrade to the earlier version of iOS. iOS 26.4.1 came out a week ago . When software is "signed," it means it can pass the server-side verification check that Apple does when a user downloads a new version of iOS on an iPhone. An update that's not signed can't be installed because it won't pass the verification check. Apple does not show users earlier versions of iOS after an upgrade has been released, but when software is still signed, it is possible to downgrade with the macOS Finder app on a Mac or the Apple Devices app on a Windows PC. Unsigning software prevents Apple customers from installing outdated, less secure versions of iOS, and Apple typically stops signing an update a week or so after new software comes out. iOS 26.4.1 fixed iCloud syncing issues and Stolen Device Protection on enterprise devices. While iOS 26.4.1 is the current publicly available version of iOS, Apple is also beta testing an iOS 26.5 update. Related Roundups: iOS 26 , iPadOS 26 Related Forum: iOS 26 This article, " iOS 26.4 No Longer Signed by Apple, Blocking Downgrades From iOS 26.4.1 " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Researchers were able to pull $10k from a locked iPhone via a trick that requires physical device access, perfect circumstances, and specialized hardware. Don't let fearmongering convince you to turn off Transit Mode. Visa cards on Apple Pay have a very specific vulnerability that no one should worry about Fear is one of the most prevalent emotions to utilize when looking to make some content go viral. If you watched TV in the past 40 years, a lot of late-night news broadcasts thrived on the "but it could happen to you" plot devices. YouTube is no stranger to using fear as a tactic, and one of the biggest tech YouTubers, Marques Brownlee, let the channel Veritasium steal $10k from his locked iPhone in a video. It utilized a man-in-the-middle technique where transaction handshakes are intercepted between an iPhone and payment terminal. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
