Apple finally gives iPhone users the pro camera controls Android has had for years

The iPhone has long been one of the best phones around for point-and-shoot photography, but Apple hasn’t given keen photographers quite the same freedom as some Android rivals. That looks to be changing with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which finally bring a much more comprehensive set of manual camera controls.

Apple announced the two phones today, revealing a new customizable Pro controls interface in the Camera app. It lets you manually adjust settings, including shutter speed, white balance, and lens aperture, while a histogram can be used to check exposure levels across the scene.

The aperture control is possible thanks to another big camera upgrade. The new 48MP Fusion Main camera has a physical variable aperture with six blades that automatically adjusts to lighting and the desired depth of field. You can also take over yourself and manually choose between four aperture settings, ranging from f/1.48 to f/4. Apple says an API will give developers even more control across the aperture range in third-party apps.

None of this will sound especially revolutionary if you’ve spent much time with Android camera apps. Google added manual shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and other Pro controls to the Pixel 8 Pro in 2023, while Samsung’s Expert RAW offers controls such as shutter speed and white balance, along with a live histogram. Samsung even beat Apple to physical aperture control by quite a margin: the Galaxy S9 let you manually switch its main camera between f/1.5 and f/2.4 back in 2018.

Samsung also appeared to be enjoying the familiar Android-first angle during Apple’s launch. Over on X, Samsung Mobile US posted, “Let us know when you’re done reheating our leftovers” shortly after the event, though it didn’t reference any particular iPhone feature.

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max go up for preorder on September 12 and will be available from September 18.