Apple's autumn launch event invitation hides a secret: iPhone 18 Pro Max's two major selling points revealed in advance

Apple will hold its largest product launch event of the year on September 9 local time (1 a.m. Beijing time on September 10), with the slogan "Glowtime." The company plans to unveil multiple new products at the event, including its first foldable iPhone, as well as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. This launch also marks the debut of John Ternus as Apple's CEO, as current CEO Tim Cook will officially step down on September 1 and assume the role of Executive Chairman.

Tech blogger Mark Gurman, based on Apple's invitation, has identified two details that may relate to the iPhone 18 Pro series.

First, the flash element on the invitation has been interpreted by outsiders as a hint that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a mechanical variable aperture, enabling flexible control over light intake. Second, the sky-blue background tone suggests that the iPhone 18 Pro series may introduce a new sky-blue color option.

Looking back, all previous iPhone models have used a fixed aperture design. For example, the iPhone 17 Pro Max's main camera has an aperture of f/1.78. The addition of a variable aperture will bring greater flexibility to photography. In low-light conditions, the system can automatically widen the aperture to increase light intake, resulting in cleaner and more transparent images.

In bright scenes, the aperture quickly narrows to effectively prevent overexposure while enhancing edge sharpness. A wide aperture also delivers physical-level background blur with smooth transitions and prominent subject isolation, while a narrow aperture keeps both foreground and background sharp throughout, making it ideal for group shots and similar scenarios.

Overall, variable aperture technology grants users greater creative freedom, allowing seamless switching between blur and clarity to meet diverse shooting needs.

Notably, the new sky-blue color option for the iPhone 18 Pro series is quite close in tone to the Sierra Blue of the iPhone 13 Pro, offering a fresh and elegant overall look that is minimalist yet refined. As the launch date approaches, more details about the iPhone 18 Pro series are expected to be revealed gradually.