iPhone 18 Pro: using the new variable aperture lens

Like the iPhone 17 Pro models, the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max feature three rear cameras: a 48 MP Fusion main lens, an 8 x 48 MP telephoto lens, and a 48 MP ultra-wide lens. They also share the same focal lengths and resolutions as their predecessors. The big improvement this year is the new variable aperture of the main camera. Let’s go.

The aperture is what controls the amount of light that enters the lens and reaches the sensor. If too little light hits this sensor, images tend to be blurry and/or grainy. To compensate, the shutter must stay open longer or activate night mode. The problem with this approach is that the longer the shutter is open or night mode is activated, the more likely the images will be blurry. Even photos can lack sharpness and definition.

The solution is to use a variable aperture lens that is physically capable of letting in more or less light depending on the shot, allowing for variations in shutter speed. iPhone 18 Pro models can do this automatically, or you can take over the process manually for more stylistic control.

To achieve this, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max trade a fixed ƒ/1.78 aperture for a four-speed variable aperture ranging from ƒ/1.48 to ƒ/4.0, delivering approximately 50% better low-light performance and giving photographers optical control over depth of field that the iPhone has never offered before.

As mentioned, you can let the iPhone 18 Pro do its thing with the new variable aperture, or you can take control of it manually. Here’s how to do it:

1. In the Camera app, tap the six-dot button at the bottom right of the interface.
2. Select Lens aperture from the control panel.
3. Tap one of the four circles to adjust the aperture: they extend from left to right ƒ/1.48, ƒ1.8, ƒ2.8and finally, ƒ/4.0.
4. If you change your mind, press the Auto on the left to allow iPhone to automatically control the aperture.

Try experimenting with different aperture settings to see how they affect your images. The ƒ/1.48, for example, produces a shallower depth of field, while the ƒ/4.0 will have greater image sharpness.

Remember that with variable aperture, the lower the f-number, the wider the aperture and the more light reaches the sensor. This allows the camera to use a faster shutter speed in the same lighting conditions, while producing a shallower depth of field. On the other hand, the higher the f-number, the smaller the aperture, letting in less light but increasing the amount of the scene that can remain in focus. The latter can be useful for landscapes and group photos for example.