Apple today announced Pro Controls, a new customizable camera interface for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max that lets users manually adjust aperture, shutter speed, and white balance, or check exposure levels with a live histogram.
Pro Controls is built around the variable aperture on the new Main camera. Six laser-cut blades move smoothly between four aperture settings, and the Camera app can adjust aperture automatically based on depth of field and lighting, or users can take manual control themselves for what Apple calls "truly unique shots that weren't possible before" on an iPhone.
Pro Controls works across both photo and video capture. It also introduces Smart Focus Tracking, which uses on-device AI models to lock onto a subject and maintain focus even if that subject briefly leaves the frame and comes back into view.
The new interface arrives alongside broader camera upgrades on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, including a redesigned computational imaging pipeline, updated Photographic Styles with new texture and grain controls, and the ability to apply Cinematic effects after capture to video shot at up to 60 fps. Variable aperture is also exposed to developers through a new API, giving third-party apps access to the same range of aperture settings.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 and iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299. Pre-orders open on Saturday, September 12, ahead of availability on Friday, September 18.
