IPhone 18 Pro Models Gain Moving Aperture for Control

Apple has announced the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, with a standout hardware change: a moving aperture in the main camera. The company unveiled the phones at its annual fall event, pitching the new system as a key tool for creative control over images and videos.

Contrary to earlier rumors, the adjustable aperture is available on both the Pro and Pro Max models. Apple states the mechanism uses six laser-cut blades, each thinner than a human hair. The maximum aperture is now F1.48, a notable increase from the F1.78 aperture on the iPhone 17 Pro.

Pro Camera Controls

The phone provides users with four selectable aperture options. Apple is introducing "Pro Controls," a suite of manual settings that includes direct adjustment of aperture, white balance, and shutter speed. Also, the existing Photography Styles feature now supports user control over image grain.

For videographers, the camera supports 4K time-lapse recording. The cinematic mode, which simulates a shallow depth of field, can now be used at resolutions up to 4K and 60 frames per second.

Image Authenticity and AI

Addressing concerns about AI-altered imagery, Apple is implementing new authenticity measures. The company is following other manufacturers by adding support for the C2PA content credentials standard. Apple is also introducing its own system, called Apple Reference Image.

This feature is made possible by a new sensor in the main camera that "can sign every pixel it sees." Photos taken in a dedicated "Reference mode" will capture signed sensor data, which Apple's Private Cloud Compute service then develops into what the company calls an unalterable reference image. The Apple Reference Image feature will not be available in China at launch, and will also be unavailable in the European Union initially.

Apple says it is adding support for the SynthID standard as well, which applies an invisible watermark to images created or edited using AI tools.

Performance and Design

The iPhone 18 Pro is powered by the new A20 Pro chip, which features a 6-core CPU and a 7-core GPU. Apple claims the GPU is 40% faster than the previous generation. The chip also has double the neural cores, which should provide double the AI processing capacity.

Despite having a physically smaller battery, Apple states the iPhone 18 Pro offers double the battery life of its predecessor. It supports faster wired charging, capable of reaching a 50% charge in 15 minutes.

For the first time, the Pro models are offered in four color options instead of the traditional three. The available finishes are black, silver, "Glacier" blue, and "Burgundy." The return of a black option addresses feedback from customers disappointed by its absence last year.

Pricing and Availability

The new models see a price increase over the previous generation. The pricing for the base storage tier is as follows:

The Pro Max model costs $100 more than the iPhone 17 Pro Max at launch. The phones will be available in the standard fall release window.