From variable aperture to faster charging, here’s what to test first.
Not only that, but the Dynamic Island is smaller and charging your iPhone is much faster. If you have an iPhone 18 Pro or plan on getting one, check out these highlights first.
Play with the camera’s new variable aperture
At f/1.48, the sensor lets in more light and blurs the background more, which is perfect for that photo in a dimly lit restaurant. Switch to f/4 to reduce the aperture; you’ll have less light, but everyone in the photo will look sharper. It’s perfect for group photos or landscapes. The smaller aperture also creates a cool starburst effect on bright lights.
You can find the aperture controls by tapping the six-dot button in the Camera app. But remember: this control only works on the main lens, in 1x and 2x modes. Other lenses still have a fixed aperture, just like before.
Go through the new Pro camera controls
All these controls are located inside the same six-dot button, along with the aperture setting. What’s great is that you can customize the Camera app for easier access to your favorite controls. Press and hold the controls at the top of the Camera app, then drag the ones you want to keep there at all times.
Adjust grain and texture in Photographic Styles
Take a photo with any of the cameras on your new iPhone, then open the editing menu and tap Styles to see the new options. Select Customize, then go to the Texture tab to adjust. Here, you can soften skin tones without affecting the rest of the image, add some glow or apply a film effect to the highlights. If you like that old-school grainy effect, that’s possible, too. Messing around with all these new styles is a great way to give your photos a nicer look.
Try out the new Dynamic Island
Dynamic Island now shows not just one, but up to three Live Activities at once. This means you can control your music, check the progress of a timer and keep track of the score of a sporting event all at the same time. Everything works just like on previous models, where you press and hold on each Live Activity in the Dynamic Island to expand it. Any apps that already work with the Dynamic Island can take advantage of these improvements.
Plug it in for a fast charge
There’s a catch, though. To get the most out of fast charging, you need the right power adapter. The fastest wired speed needs a USB PD 3.1 adapter with Adjustable Voltage Supply at 60W or higher, and Apple ran its tests with its own 40W Dynamic Power Adapter, which peaks at 60W. Also, these estimates only cover the first half of the battery’s charge — the rest of the charging process will be a little slower to preserve the battery’s health. Still, it’s an improvement for emergency situations when you need an extra boost.
