Apple is bringing a significant change to the iPhone 18 Pro camera. After nine years, the Cupertino-based company has redesigned the lens of the 48MP Fusion main camera with a mechanical iris made of six laser-cut blades. This iris adjusts the lens opening, giving users control over how much light enters the camera and how depth of field appears in their shots.
Four Aperture Settings for More Flexibility
The new mechanical iris supports four aperture settings: f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, and f/4. At the widest setting, the lens lets in about 50% more light than f/1.8, which is a meaningful advantage in low-light scenes. Users can also close the aperture when they want deeper focus or a different cinematic look, giving the camera more creative flexibility.
How the Aperture System Works
Aperture controls both exposure and depth of field. Light gathering depends on the ratio between f-numbers: dividing the smaller opening by the larger one and squaring the result gives the light multiplier. Depth of field is also influenced by sensor size, so the f-number can be multiplied by the crop factor to find the full-frame equivalent look.
A Focus on Lens Design, Not a Bigger Sensor
Apple appears to be focusing on optical engineering rather than sensor size. The 1/1.28-inch main sensor reportedly remains the same one used since the iPhone 14 Pro. Instead, the redesigned lens unit is said to cost about 50% more than the seven-element lens in the iPhone 17 Pro, according to supply chain analysis.
More Camera and Video Upgrades
The iPhone 18 Pro also brings several video improvements. Cinematic effects can now be applied to standard footage after the shot at up to 4K Dolby Vision 60 frames per second. Time-lapse recording supports 4K Dolby Vision HDR as well. In addition, Smart Focus Tracking will hold a subject on the device and automatically reacquire it after the subject leaves the frame and returns. The combination gives both casual users and photographers more control over their mobile photography.
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