Honor Magic10 Could Bring Back the Variable Aperture Camera

Honor may be preparing to bring back one of its most distinctive camera features. According to tipster Smart Pikachu on Weibo, the upcoming Honor Magic10 series could reintroduce the variable aperture camera that the company dropped from the Magic8 lineup earlier this year.

The variable aperture system first appeared on the Honor Magic6 in early 2025 and carried over to the Magic7 later that year. The feature allows the lens to physically adjust its aperture between two settings, giving users more control over depth of field and low-light performance without relying entirely on software processing. It was widely considered one of the better implementations of variable aperture technology in a smartphone.

f/1.4Widest setting on Magic7

2Generations without it

Q1 2027Expected launch window

Why Honor Dropped It

Honor did not publicly explain why the Magic8 series shipped without the variable aperture camera. The most likely reason is cost. Variable aperture mechanisms add complexity to the camera module, and the Magic8 was reportedly positioned to hit a more aggressive price point. The company may have concluded that the feature did not justify its manufacturing cost for that generation.

The Magic9 series took a different approach entirely, launching only a Pro Max model rather than the full lineup. That single-model strategy left no room for a mid-range option where the variable aperture might have been cut anyway.

What the Leak Suggests

The current rumor points specifically to the Magic10 Pro Max as the model most likely to carry the variable aperture system. This tracks with Honor's pattern of reserving its most advanced camera hardware for the top-tier variant. The standard Magic10 and Magic10 Pro, if they exist, would likely ship with a fixed aperture.

No specific aperture values have been mentioned. The Magic6 and Magic7 switched between f/1.4 and f/2.0, and it would be reasonable to expect the Magic10 to offer a similar or slightly wider range if Honor has refined the mechanism.

Honor built a camera reputation on variable aperture, dropped it for a generation, and now looks ready to put it back.

On the Magic series camera strategy

Separate Foldable Rumor

Adding to the variable aperture chatter, a separate leak from Digital Chat Station claims the Honor Magic V7 foldable may also feature a 50-megapixel main camera with variable aperture support. If true, this would mark the first time Honor has put the technology in a foldable device. However, the foldable leak is independent of the Magic10 rumor, and neither has been confirmed by Honor.

Two separate claims: the Magic10 rumour and the Magic V7 foldable rumour come from different tipsters. One does not corroborate the other, and they are easy to conflate because both mention variable aperture.

When to Expect It

Honor has not announced a launch window for the Magic10 series. Based on previous cycles, the Magic10 would likely arrive in the first quarter of 2027. Until Honor makes it official, the variable aperture comeback remains a credible but unconfirmed possibility.

Frequently asked questions

It lets the lens physically change how much light it admits. A wide setting such as f/1.4 helps in low light and produces a shallower depth of field, while a narrower setting such as f/2.0 keeps more of the frame sharp. Almost every other phone camera has a fixed aperture and approximates the effect in software.

The Magic6 introduced it in early 2025 and the Magic7 carried it over later that year. The Magic8 dropped the feature, and the Magic9 generation launched only as a Pro Max model.

Probably not. The leak points specifically at the Magic10 Pro Max, which matches Honor's habit of reserving its most expensive camera hardware for the top model.

No. Honor has not announced the Magic10 series or commented on its camera hardware, so the aperture claim is a credible rumour rather than a specification.