This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,070, Sept. 15, 2026. Today's theme is, "Is the iPhone 18 Pro a Worthy Upgrade to the 17 Pro?" I'm Derrick Story.
The iPhone Duo is getting a lot of headlines, but for photographers, the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max are the more applicable tools. I will briefly cover the Duo, but today's focus will be on the new Pro handsets, including the variable aperture main camera. All of this, and more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.
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Is the iPhone 18 Pro a Worthy Upgrade to the 17 Pro?
Before we get to the Pro, let's take a quick look at the Duo. Two cameras, the main and ultra wide.
iPhone Duo Camera Overview
- 48MP Fusion Main: 26 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, sensor‑shift optical image stabilization. Also enables 12MP optical-quality 2x Telephoto: 52 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, sensor‑shift optical image stabilization, Hybrid Focus Pixels.
- 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide: 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120° field of view, Hybrid Focus Pixels, super‑high‑resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
- Digital zoom up to 10x
- 48MP macro photography
- Image formats captured: HEIF and JPEG (No RAW)
- The 256 GB Duo is $1,999.
Decent enough specs, but really nothing compared to the Pro models. Let's take a look at them.
iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 48MP Pro Fusion camera system
- 48MP Fusion Main with variable aperture (ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, ƒ/4.0): 24 mm, second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
- 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide: 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120 degrees field of view, Hybrid Focus Pixels, super‑high‑resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
- 48MP Fusion Telephoto: 100 mm (4x), ƒ/2.8 aperture, Hybrid Focus Pixels, 3D sensor‑shift optical image stabilization and autofocus, tetraprism design, super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Also enables 12MP optical-quality 8x Telephoto: 200 mm, ƒ/2.8 aperture
- Pro controls for lens aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and viewing histogram
- ProRAW
- Image formats captured: HEIF, JPEG, and DNG
Comparing the iPhone 18 Pro with the iPhone 17 Pro
Some comparisons between iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Smaller Dynamic Island (iPhone 18)
- A20 Pro 2nm (18) vs A19 Pro 3nm (17) - more computing power without increasing energy consumption.
- C2 modem (18) vs Snapdragon X80 modem (17) - Apple's more efficient modem.
- Variable aperture for the 48MP main camera (18)
- 5567 mAh battery (18) vs 5088 mAh (17) - nearly 10 percent larger.
So, there are plenty of improvements in the Pro Max 18 over the last year's 17 model. Are they enough to warrant an upgrade? For most photographers, probably not, especially considering this year's phone starts at $1,299 for 256 GBs and climbs to $1,499 for 512 GBs. BTW: the 2 TB model costs $2,499!
I like seeing that Apple is continuing to improve their handsets for photographers. And it's also nice not having to upgrade every year.
This Week in the News
The iPhone 18 Pro has a variable aperture camera lens - why don't all phones? as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com
Bon voyage: OM System PEN means every kind of photographer has a travel option as featured on DPReview.com
Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold Review: Some New Looks but the Same Old Phone as featured on PetaPixel.com
OM System PEN Review - best-in-class features and style at an unbeatable price as featured on AmateurPhotographer.com
Virtual Camera Club News
Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well
Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much!
Workshops!
The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season. We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques.
Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.
Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me.
Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.
If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.
The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.
Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.
The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.
Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.
Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.
See you next week!
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