Photographer Tyler Stalman evaluates iPhone 18 Pro camera upgrades

Photographer Tyler Stalman released his annual review of the iPhone 18 Pro’s camera system, focusing on the device’s variable aperture, updated Photographic Styles, Apple Reference Image and other software enhancements. He notes that the new f/1.48 aperture allows more light to reach the sensor, which can keep ISO lower in dim conditions and reduce reliance on Night mode. The aperture mechanism is positioned above the primary lens element, a design choice that differs from traditional lenses.

Stalman compares the iPhone 18 Pro’s camera to the iPhone 15 Pro, while the review video was largely recorded on an iPhone 17 Pro. He suggests that professional users may prefer the Burgundy or Black finishes over the Cosmic Orange color, which can reflect unwanted hues in certain shooting scenarios. The 4x optical zoom is described as an improvement over the previous generation’s 5x zoom, which could feel overly tight.

The review also covers Apple’s AI-powered editing tools, such as Clean Up, Extend and Reframe, noting that while they produce convincing results, the alterations can be substantial enough to affect the perceived authenticity of the original image. New texture controls—Soft Skin, Glow and Film—are demonstrated across their full intensity range. Stalman observes that Soft Skin reduces skin detail without blurring, Glow adds a diffused highlight effect akin to a black-mist filter, and the Film effect introduces grain and halation, though he would like finer grain adjustments.

Regarding video capabilities, Stalman discusses the updated Cinematic mode and recommends Apple Log for more cinematic footage, mentioning the introduction of Apple Log 2. The review includes side-by-side photo and video comparisons between the iPhone 18 Pro and earlier models.