GoKawiiliPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture shown to shorten Night mode exposure times
A hands-on test compared the iPhone 18 Pro's new variable aperture lens at f/1.8 versus its widened f/1.48 setting for Night mode photography. Switching to the wider aperture cut exposure duration in one test shot from 2.1 seconds to 1.7 seconds, with similar modest reductions seen in other shots. The lens can also be manually stopped down to f/4 to deliberately lengthen exposures, such as for smoothing moving water.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The tester suggests shorter exposure times could reduce blur from hand movement during low-light shots, though the gain from less than one stop of extra light is modest in typical conditions. The reviewer notes the biggest benefit may emerge in very dark settings like astrophotography, which they were unable to test from London due to light pollution.
- iPhone 18 Pro's aperture can widen to f/1.48 from f/1.8, or narrow to f/4
- Wider aperture reduced one Night mode shot's exposure from 2.1s to 1.7s
- Narrower aperture can be used deliberately for longer exposures, like smoothing water
Apple iPhone 18 Pro — This is the exact device behind the variable aperture Night mode tests in the article, letting you capture sharper low-light shots with less camera shake. If you're into mobile photography, this phone's adjustable f/1.48 aperture gives you creative control that older iPhones simply can't match.
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: 9to5mac.com — Ben Lovejoy, 2026-10-16
Published there as: “Here’s the difference the variable aperture of the iPhone 18 Pro makes at night”
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