While the iPhone Duo was the standout product during Apple's September event, the second biggest news was the camera additions to the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. For the first time ever, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max include a genuine variable aperture. It's paired with a new set of manual controls, upgraded video features, and a fresh approach to photo authenticity, making this arguably the most substantial camera overhaul Apple has shipped in years.It's also a meaningful shift in what Apple wants the iPhone to be. Case in point, the event kicks off with different cinematic scenes shot on the iPhone 18 Pro. Between the adjustable aperture, manual shutter speed, manual focus, and a live histogram, the iPhone 18 Pro is basically an entry-level DSLR that can call and text your friends.
That said, it's worth watching how long Apple sticks with the hardware. Variable aperture isn't new to smartphones broadly; Samsung shipped a version of it with the Galaxy S9 and S10, before quietly dropping the feature entirely.So, whether the feature is here to stay or not, here's a closer look at everything that's new.Manual controlsFor people who like to fine-tune their shots rather than let the phone decide everything, there's a new "Pro controls" panel baked right into the Camera app.It surfaces the aperture setting mentioned above, plus shutter speed (how long the sensor is exposed to light — faster freezes motion, slower creates blur or lets in more light) and white balance (a color correction that keeps whites looking white instead of tinted orange under indoor lighting or blue in shade).
