The real story of the iPhone 18 Pro’s camera | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchLightSystemDarkTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.The real story of the iPhone 18 Pro’s cameraNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...PodcastsClosePodcastsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PodcastsVergecastCloseVergecastPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All VergecastThe real story of the iPhone 18 Pro’s cameraOn The Vergecast: an iPhone 18 Pro camera deep dive, the state of the AI safety debate, and more.On The Vergecast: an iPhone 18 Pro camera deep dive, the state of the AI safety debate, and more.by Jacob KastrenakesCloseJacob KastrenakesExecutive EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jacob KastrenakesSep 18, 2026, 5:06 PM UTCLinkShareGiftJacob KastrenakesCloseJacob KastrenakesPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jacob Kastrenakes is The Verge’s executive editor. He has covered tech, policy, and online creators for over a decade.It’s one of the most fascinating years in a while when it comes to iPhone camera upgrades. The big story of the iPhone 18 Pro is the variable aperture main lens, which lets you open the aperture up wider for better low light shots and make the aperture smaller for better depth of field in group photos. But all I can get anyone to talk about is the software upgrades: it turns out, they’re a lot more useful day to day than the aperture on a camera this small.This week on The Vergecast, David Imel and Allison Johnson are here for a deep dive into the iPhone 18 Pro’s camera. There’s a lot to explore here, from the aperture, to the camera app’s new manual controls, to the updated imaging pipeline and the improvements to ProRAW.

Watch | Listen | Get ad-freeAfter that, Hayden Field is on the show to discuss the state of the AI safety debate. Concerns are still boiling over after an Anthropic researcher quit his job to warn about the dangers of AI, and any chance for policy solutions seems to have hit a dead end. We discuss whether what’s likely to happen in the interim — third-party evaluators being embedded within the big AI labs — has any teeth, and where the safety conversation goes from here.Finally, it’s time for a Lightning Round. We discuss Waymo’s ability to call the cops, a new ereader from Boox, and a couple of tiny retro-style cameras.If you want to learn more about any of the topics we discussed, you can check out the stories below:iPhone 18 Pro review: it’s all about the manual controlsThe variable aperture isn’t the cool part of the iPhone 18 Pro’s cameraApple’s new iPhone camera mode promises to prove your photo isn’t AIInside the suddenly explosive world of AI safetyYour robotaxi might be a narcWaymo pulls over, calls cops on riders with a ghost gunThe Boox Palma 3 gets stylus support and a sleek redesignCamp Snap’s 110D gives slim retro film cameras a digital upgradeFujifilm’s Instax Pal 2 is a tiny digital camera that may not disappointFollow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Jacob KastrenakesCloseJacob KastrenakesExecutive EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jacob KastrenakesPodcastsClosePodcastsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PodcastsVergecastCloseVergecastPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All VergecastMost PopularMost PopularThe Apple Watch Series 12 is the start of a new wearable eraThe 2.5-hour AI-generated Odyssey movie is 2.5 hours too longThe iPhone 18 Pro’s big camera update is all about the small gainsVideoInside the suddenly explosive world of AI safetyYour robotaxi might be a narcThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in PodcastsPlayMicrosoft AI CEO says AI threats are real, and Anthropic is making it worseWhat if social media isn’t hurting kids?How The Oregon Trail became a generational iconPlayAdam Conover explains how YouTube ruined everythingWe unfolded the iPhone DuoSchools are catching on to Big Tech’s playbookPlayMicrosoft AI CEO says AI threats are real, and Anthropic is making it worseNilay PatelSep 17What if social media isn’t hurting kids?Lauren FeinerSep 15How The Oregon Trail became a generational iconDavid Pierce and Travis LarchukSep 15PlayAdam Conover explains how YouTube ruined everythingNilay PatelSep 14We unfolded the iPhone DuoJacob KastrenakesSep 11Schools are catching on to Big Tech’s playbookLauren FeinerSep 10Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop Stories11:00 AM UTCFlash floods can strike without warning — this new technology could change thatAn hour agoWhat Hollywood thinks about existential AI warningsSep 17Your robotaxi might be a narcSep 16The iPhone 18 Pro: an ambitious new camera on the marginsVideoThe VergeThe Verge logo.FacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesArchivesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy PolicyYour California Privacy RightsYour Privacy ChoicesCookie NoticeAdChoicesLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform StatusPenske Media CorporationThe Verge is a part of PMX Global, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Media Corporation.© 2026 VM Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.Our SitesThe American PavilionARTnewsArt in AmericaArtforumArt Week NYCBeauty IncBillboardDeadlineDick Clark ProductionsThe DodoEaterFlow SpaceFNGold DerbyGolden GlobesThe Hollywood ReporterIndieWireLife is BeautifulPopsugarPunchSJ DenimRobb ReportRolling StoneSB NationSHE MediaShe KnowsSourcing JournalSoapsSporticoStyleCasterSXSWThrillistVarietyThe VergeVibeWWDNotifications DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Sign in to see your notifications or create an account to join the conversation.Sign in

The narrative surrounding the iPhone 18 Pro's camera centers on the technical advancements in hardware and the subsequent impact of software evolution. A key feature highlighted is the variable aperture main lens, which facilitates wider aperture settings to enhance low-light photography and allows for greater control over depth of field in group shots. However, the author suggests that the software upgrades are ultimately more significant for day-to-day use than the physical aperture modifications. A deep dive discussed on The Vergecast explored these camera enhancements, covering the variable aperture, new manual controls in the camera application, updates to the imaging pipeline, and improvements to ProRAW functionality.

Beyond the photographic technology, the discussion expanded to encompass broader societal concerns, specifically the state of the artificial intelligence safety debate. The segment included a discussion on the ongoing concerns following an Anthropic researcher's departure to warn about AI dangers and the perceived impasse regarding policy solutions. The conversation examined the efficacy of embedding third-party evaluators within large AI laboratories as a means of ensuring safety and debated the future trajectory of this safety conversation.

In addition to technology and safety, the segment also featured a lightning round covering disparate topics. This included an exploration of Waymo’s operational capabilities, such as its ability to interface with law enforcement, as well as reviews of other emerging gadgets and technologies, including a new ereader from Boox and retro-style cameras such as the Camp Snap 110D and Fujifilm's Instax Pal 2. These segments illustrate a wider context where technological innovation intersects with regulatory, ethical, and consumer interests.