Apple's new iPhones and Watches are better than the last ones | The Vergecast

Apple's latest releases, the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple Watch Series 12, bring a mix of minor physical tweaks and significant underlying technological advancements, particularly in the realm of AI and health tracking. While visually similar to their predecessors, these devices pack new features designed to subtly improve user interaction and data collection.

iPhone 18 Pro: A Familiar Face with a New Lens

At first glance, the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max appear almost identical to the previous 17 Pro models. The physical design remains largely unchanged, and even the internal components share many similarities. However, a key differentiator lies within the main camera: a new variable mechanical aperture. This six-blade aperture, a first for iPhones, allows for more control over light intake, a feature traditionally found in larger camera systems. While this is a notable engineering feat, its practical impact on everyday smartphone photography is marginal due to the iPhone's small sensor size, which inherently offers a wide depth of field. The aperture can go a little wider, from f/1.8 to f/1.48, and stop down to f/4, offering four stops of adjustment. This wider aperture does provide a slight benefit in low-light conditions, potentially leading to faster night mode shots and reduced noise, but the overall improvement is subtle. For most users who simply point and shoot, the difference will be barely perceptible, unless examining very close-up shots where background blur or sharpness might be slightly altered. The good news for existing iPhone 17 Pro users is that the new iPhone 18 Pro fits perfectly into older cases, a testament to the minimal design changes.