iPhone 18 Pro Camera Gains Variable Aperture, Manual Controls on September 10

Apple launched the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max on September 9, featuring a mechanical variable aperture that adjusts between f/1.48 and f/4.0, plus manual shutter speed, white balance, and focus controls built into the native camera app. Prices jumped £100 from last year’s models. The event also introduced the iPhone Duo foldable at £1,599, powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro chip and featuring a 7.6-inch inner display.

Variable aperture brings pro camera tools to iPhone

The iPhone 18 Pro’s main camera now features laser-cut aperture blades that open and close smoothly to control light intake. Users can manually select f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, or f/4.0, or let the camera choose automatically. In automatic mode, the aperture adjusts without changing shutter speed, keeping action shots sharp while reducing image grain. Apple said the feature allows photographers to blur foregrounds in daylight by stopping down to f/4, a task that was difficult with fixed wide-open apertures on older models.

Pro mode expands with manual controls

Beyond aperture, the iPhone 18 Pro’s updated Pro mode adds manual shutter speed, white balance, and focus controls previously available only through third-party apps like Halide. The camera also includes persistent subject tracking and a new Reference mode for consistent color grading. Reviewers note that smartphone sensors remain small enough that aperture changes deliver limited sharpness gains compared to full-size cameras, but the controls offer real benefits for video in bright sunlight and group portraits.

Prices rise £100 as memory costs climb

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max each cost £100 more than last year’s models. Apple cited rising memory and storage costs for the increase, which also affected Mac and iPad prices over the summer. The company introduced new glacier and burgundy color options for the standard iPhone 18 lineup.

iPhone Duo foldable arrives at £1,599

Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, opens to a 7.6-inch inner display and closes to a 5.4-inch outer screen with 90 percent of the Pro’s screen area. It runs the new A20 Pro chip with a custom vapor chamber for thermal management and dual-battery architecture. Pre-orders start October 16, with availability October 23. The device includes Apple’s new C2 modem, further reducing reliance on Qualcomm for cellular connectivity.

Final Thoughts

Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro camera gains real pro controls, but the variable aperture’s practical benefits remain modest on small phone sensors. With Meyka grading AAPL a B and forecasting £294.58 yearly, the £100 price hike tests whether premium features justify the cost.

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