GoKawiiliPhone 18 Pro camera: variable aperture takes a back seat to software upgrades
The Vergecast's David Imel and Allison Johnson examined Apple's iPhone 18 Pro camera system, highlighting its new variable aperture main lens designed for better low-light and depth-of-field control. They concluded that the camera app's manual controls, revamped imaging pipeline, and improved ProRAW support are proving more practically useful day-to-day than the aperture hardware itself.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Variable aperture is a notable hardware first for iPhone, but the discussion suggests software refinements may matter more to everyday photographers than headline hardware specs. This reflects a broader trend where computational photography and processing pipelines increasingly define smartphone camera quality more than physical lens mechanics.
- iPhone 18 Pro introduces a variable aperture main lens for adjustable depth of field and low-light performance.
- Reviewers found new manual controls, imaging pipeline changes, and ProRAW improvements more impactful in daily use.
- The episode also covered AI safety debates and quick takes on Waymo, a Boox ereader, and retro-style cameras.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro — This is the very phone at the center of the discussion, featuring the new variable aperture main camera and upgraded imaging pipeline covered in the episode. If you want to try out the manual camera controls and improved ProRAW for yourself, this is the device to get.
See Apple iPhone 18 Pro 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: theverge.com — Jacob Kastrenakes, 2026-09-18
Published there as: “The real story of the iPhone 18 Pro’s camera”
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