iPhone 18 Pro introduces adjustable camera aperture and dual Neural Engine chip

Apple has unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro, a performance-focused iteration that shifts some photography decision-making from the device's algorithms back to users.

Camera improvements prioritize user control#

The redesigned camera system gives photographers greater agency over image capture. Rather than relying solely on Apple's on-device computational photography, the new system allows more hands-on adjustment of capture parameters. A standout feature is the variable aperture lens, enabling manual control over depth of field and light gathering during shooting.

A20 Pro processor brings raw power#

The centerpiece of the device is the A20 Pro, Apple's first smartphone chip built on 2-nanometer process technology. The processor combines a six-core CPU—featuring two high-performance cores running up to 20 percent faster than their predecessors—alongside four efficiency cores for balanced performance and battery life.

Graphics performance receives a notable boost through the updated seven-core GPU, which delivers up to 40 percent improvement over the previous generation and expanded memory bandwidth. The chip also houses a substantially upgraded machine-learning system: the company has effectively doubled the Neural Engine by integrating dual processing units on a single chip.

Apple Intelligence at the center#

The company emphasized how the iPhone's deep integration with personal data—calendars, routines, and device context—positions it as an ideal platform for Apple Intelligence features while maintaining privacy safeguards. The enhanced Siri, powered by large language models and arriving in October, represents a significant step in making the assistant more contextually aware and capable.