Apple limits aperture to four settings

The iPhone 18 Pro's native camera app restricts manual aperture control to just four settings: f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, and f/4. Auto mode uses the same four stops.

Apple's SDK allows third-party alternatives

Apple's SDK actually permits third-party camera apps to implement more granular aperture control than the native app offers, revealing the limitation is software, not hardware.

Blackmagic Camera adds ten aperture presets

BlackMagic Design's free Blackmagic Camera app for iOS was among the first to support the iPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture, offering ten presets with settings between those available in Apple's app.

Blackmagic Camera had early stability issues

The iPhoneographers YouTube channel tested Blackmagic Camera version three point five last week and described it as pretty buggy, though the app was updated to version three point five point one with general performance and stability improvements.

“pretty buggy”

Moment Pro Camera II matches Blackmagic's control

Moment announced its twelve dollar ninety-nine Moment Pro Camera II app now supports the iPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture, adjusting from f/1.48 to f/4.0 in one third stop increments for ten presets.

Fine control may have limited practical effect

Given the iPhone 18 Pro's small sensor size, photographers may struggle to see differences in background blur between photos with f-stops differing by just one third of a stop, though more control remains valuable.