Apple has clarified that its new Texture and Grain adjustments in Photographic Styles, introduced alongside the iPhone 18 lineup, can only be applied to photos captured with iPhone 18 Pro models and iPhone Duo's Ultra Wide, Main, and Center Stage cameras. Earlier press materials had implied broader availability on older devices like the iPhone 16 and iPhone Air, but Apple has since revised those statements to specify the narrower scope. A Reddit user confirmed the limitation, showing the controls only worked on an iPhone 16 Pro Max when editing sample photos taken with an iPhone 18 Pro.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-22
Photographer Tyler Stalman published his annual iPhone camera review, focusing on the iPhone 18 Pro's new variable aperture system, updated Cinematic mode, expanded Photographic Styles, and Apple Reference Image. He found the f/1.48 wide aperture lets in more light, lowering ISO needs and reducing reliance on Night mode, and noted Apple's unusual placement of the aperture blades above the main lens element.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-17
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro introduces a variable aperture camera with six blades controlled by a rotor, letting users choose between four settings from f/1.48 to f/4.0 directly in the Camera app. The update is paired with other imaging features including cinematic effects for standard video, Apple Reference Image, Photographic Styles 3, and an Audio Mix tool for music. According to early hands-on testing, the new aperture control produces more natural soft-focus effects than the phone's existing Portrait mode.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-16
Apple's iOS 27 update introduces a new 'Siri' mode in the Camera app that uses AI to identify and act on what the camera sees, such as translating text or adding event details to a calendar. The update also lets users customize which controls appear in each camera mode, while iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max owners get exclusive tools including manual aperture, shutter speed, white balance, a histogram viewer, and upgraded Photographic Styles with texture and grain adjustments.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-15
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