GoKawiilApple Adds Variable Aperture Camera to iPhone 18 Pro Lineup
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, unveiled at its 'Surprise and shine' event, introduce a mechanical variable aperture camera with four selectable f-stops plus an automatic mode. Testing at Apple Park showed the feature can produce sharp starburst effects around bright light sources, a result of how the physical aperture blades converge when stopped down.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Variable apertures have appeared on Android phones before, like Samsung's Galaxy S9 and Xiaomi's 14 Ultra, but Apple's entry brings the feature to a much larger mainstream audience and pushes competitors to refine their own implementations. It signals Apple's continued push to make iPhone cameras behave more like dedicated cameras, appealing to enthusiasts who want manual creative control alongside computational photography.
- iPhone 18 Pro features a mechanical variable aperture with four f-stops: f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, and a smallest setting.
- The aperture can create starburst light effects when stopped down near bright light sources.
- Samsung and Xiaomi previously offered variable aperture phones, but Apple's version could mainstream the feature.
ShiftCam SnapGrip Magnetic Camera Grip — If the iPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture has you shooting like a real photographer, give your phone a real shutter button. The SnapGrip magnetically snaps onto the back of your iPhone and adds a comfortable handgrip with a wireless shutter trigger, plus a built-in battery to keep long shooting sessions going. It's a natural companion for chasing those starburst night shots without camera shake.
See ShiftCam SnapGrip Magnetic Camera Grip on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: cnet.com — Patrick Holland, 2026-09-10
Published there as: “I Tried the iPhone 18 Pro’s New Deluxe Camera and Shot Photos With Starbursts”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.