New main camera: Apple iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max introduced with variable aperture and image authentication
[21:06 Wed,9.September 2026 � by blip] ���
Apple has just unveiled the new iPhone 18 generation. As a major new feature, both models—Pro and Pro Max—feature a new 48MP Fusion main camera with variable aperture control; six laser-cut blades switch seamlessly between different apertures. Together with a new sensor, this is designed to produce better shots in low-light conditions, and according to Apple, details in the background can also be rendered more sharply.
iPhone 18 Pro with new main camera
The variable aperture is also intended to give professional creators more control, as they can manually adjust each of the four available aperture settings—ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, ƒ/4.0—in the Camera app. For developers, an API is also available that allows even more precise control of the aperture across the entire available range within their apps.
Variable aperture iPhone 18 Pro
Thanks in part to a new computational photography pipeline, the main camera is designed to capture sharper and more detailed images. For videos at up to 60 frames per second, cinematic effects can now be applied even after recording. In Time-Lapse mode, video recording in 4K and Dolby Vision HDR is supported. Audio Mix also features new algorithms designed to provide higher quality for voices and can now even isolate music.
"Pro Controls" are a new, customizable feature in the Camera app of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. It makes accessing the most frequently used settings easier and introduces new manual control options. For example, users can now adjust the lens aperture, shutter speed, and white balance, or use a histogram to check exposure values within a scene.
Photographic Styles feature new texture and grain settings, which are said to allow the desired look of photos to be defined even more precisely.
Reference images as proof of authenticity
With "Apple Reference Image", it is now possible to prove the authenticity of a photo taken with an iPhone 18 Pro. The feature is based on the main camera's new sensor, which can sign every pixel it captures. If a photo is taken in the new reference mode, the camera captures signed sensor data from which Private Cloud Compute creates an immutable reference image. Reference images can be displayed in the Photos app alongside the original image, much like a digital negative. This allows the two files to be compared visually and any changes to the image to be identified. APIs are also available in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS 27 for third-party apps to display these reference images.
Image metadata and upcoming support for the SynthID standard can also help users identify images created or edited using AI. Together with Apple Reference Image, these features form a multi-layered approach to verifying image authenticity for photojournalists, photographers, and anyone who views images on a daily basis.
Improved graphics performance
Apple considers the new A20 Pro to be its most powerful and efficient iPhone chip design yet. Combined with a next-generation vapor chamber, the A20 Pro is designed to deliver graphics performance that is up to 40 percent faster than the iPhone 17 Pro. This is accompanied by a new dual 16-core Neural Engine with twice the computing power for on-device intelligence.
Thanks to advancements in Apple silicon design and a larger battery, the iPhone 18 Pro Max also offers the largest increase in battery life ever seen in an iPhone—Apple promises up to 43 hours of video playback on the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Pricing and availability
The new iPhone 18 models can be pre-ordered starting September 12 at 2 PM, and they are expected to be available from September 18. Apple is charging from 1,449 euros for the iPhone 18 Pro with a 6.3" display (with 256GB)—the 2TB version costs 2,949 euros. The iPhone 18 Pro Max with a 6.3"[Note: error in source text, usually Max is larger, but translating as stated] display is available starting from 1,559 euros (256GB).
