Apple iPhone 18 Pro adds variable aperture and new camera tools
The iPhone 18 Pro introduces a variable aperture system, expanded manual controls, and features such as Cinematic video effects, Apple Reference Image, and updated Photographic Styles.
Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro brings a variable aperture mechanism that lets users select between f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4.0 directly in the Camera app. The system uses a six-blade rotor to adjust the opening, and developers will eventually gain access to a finer aperture range through third-party apps.
The phone also adds manual controls for shutter speed, ranging from 1/6000 s to 1 s, allowing more precise exposure adjustments. Reviewers noted that pairing the widest aperture with a 1/250 s shutter captured detailed low-light scenes, such as sunlight filtering through foliage.
A new Cinematic effect can be applied to regular video after recording, though its impact varies with subject distance and lighting. The feature works only on footage captured with the iPhone 18 Pro.
Apple Reference Image creates a RAW-format copy of each shot alongside the processed version, enabling users to compare the original sensor data with the edited image. The reference file can be viewed on devices running iOS 27, iPadOS 27 or macOS 27 and requires an internet connection for processing.
Photographic Styles receive an additional layer of adjustments, offering options like Glow, Soft Skin and Film, each with intensity sliders. Early testing shows the effects are subtle, with Film adding optional grain that is more noticeable in low-light images.
Other iOS 27 updates, including Siri improvements and iPhone handoff, are available across compatible devices, though handoff currently supports only a limited number of carriers.