iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max review: manual camera exposure controls and image quality improvements, but $100 more than the 17 Pro and expensive storage tiers

Manual camera controls are now standard on iPhones, offering more creative control out of the box.

Apple has released the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, which are largely iterative updates to the previous generation. The primary new hardware feature is a variable aperture in the main camera, allowing for a maximum aperture of f/1.48 and adjustable stops down to f/4. This aims to improve low-light performance and depth of field control, though the practical benefits are described as marginal for most users. The phones also introduce manual camera controls within the native app, including aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and focus, alongside new texture and film simulation options for photographic styles. Despite these camera enhancements, the iPhone 18 Pro series sees a $100 price increase over its predecessor and features expensive storage tiers, with the foldable iPhone Duo being the more anticipated release from Apple this year.

The introduction of manual camera controls in the native iPhone app signals a broader industry trend where smartphone manufacturers are shifting focus from purely technological advancement to offering more creative flexibility and personalized image aesthetics. This move acknowledges a growing demand from users who want greater control over their photography, mirroring features increasingly found in competing devices. It suggests that future flagship phone releases will likely prioritize user-driven customization and artistic expression alongside hardware upgrades.

Apple's inclusion of adjustable aperture and photographic style filters, including film grain and glow effects, indicates a departure from its long-standing emphasis on computational perfection. This caters to a market segment that values a more analog or artistic photographic output, aligning with the popularity of film simulation modes in digital cameras. The move is a direct response to competitors like Google and Samsung, who have already integrated extensive photo customization options, pushing the definition of image quality beyond raw technical performance.