iPhone 18 Pro misses out on Dxomark's top spot

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro has scored 172 in Dxomark's camera ranking, placing second both overall and in the ultra-premium tier for phones above $800. Huawei's Pura 80 Ultra, which has held the top spot since August 2025, remains three points ahead on 175.

Low-light photography is one of the iPhone 18 Pro’s strongest areas, with a score of 150 that Dxomark identifies as the highest in its rankings. Photos exhibit strong detail, accurate exposure and controlled noise in difficult lighting, alongside a wide dynamic range and natural contrast. Video stabilization also performed well, including during movement, while recording at 60fps improves motion rendering.

Apple’s new variable aperture is another notable addition. The six-blade physical iris ranges from f/1.48 to f/4.0 and can help keep more subjects in focus for group portraits while providing manual control. The phone uses three 48MP rear cameras, although its telephoto performance remains comparatively weak: its 143 telephoto score trails the 173-point best from the Oppo Find X9 Ultra.

There are other shortcomings. Dxomark reports occasional color casts and white-balance shifts, noticeable flare in some conditions and brightness differences between photo and video previews. Long-range zoom also trails several competing flagships. Overall, the results show a camera system with particularly strong low-light and video performance, but with clear areas where rival smartphones are at an advantage.