Even though we are still waiting for the iPhone 16 to be released, rumors about the iPhone 17 continue to abound. The latest reports suggest that Apple will include the long-awaited photo feature for the first time in at least one model of its 2025 iPhone lineup.

This claim can be seen in the same The Information article detailing Apple's folding plans. According to the article, the Cupertino-based company hopes to add a variable aperture to at least one iPhone 17 model. For photographers, this could be a game-changing feature.

“Apple is planning a noticeable upgrade to the camera on at least one iPhone model next year as well, adding the ability for users to control the size of the aperture with a mechanical system, according to two people with direct knowledge of the feature,” the information reports.

“The variable aperture will allow iPhone photographers to create a natural depth-of-field effect, also known as bokeh, that blurs the background while keeping the subject in focus,” the report adds.

The variable aperture allows for much more control over depth of field than current models with a wide, fixed aperture. This allows the small iPhone sensor to get enough light. Larger cameras allow the photographer to vary the size of the aperture depending on the area he or she wants to focus on; with the iPhone's smaller sensor, closing the aperture is generally not such an option because it allows less light in, resulting in coarser grains in the picture.

What is interesting is how much Apple can change the aperture because the iPhone 17's sensor is still small. Even if the maximum aperture can be changed only slightly, it will allow for more creative use of depth of field in iPhone photography.

Apple could also be looking at ways to make the sensor larger and allow for more adjustable aperture size. A larger sensor would also greatly benefit the device's overall image capture capabilities. Nothing in the rumor suggests that Apple plans to increase the size of the sensor, and the physical limitations of smartphones prevent the company from going too large. Still, the fact that Apple is considering a variable aperture means that the company is considering a variety of options, which should excite mobile photographers.

As the report mentions “at least one model,” we have to assume that the iPhone 17 Pro Max is the most likely candidate and that the iPhone 17 Pro could add this feature as well.