DXOMARK rates the iPhone 18 Pro camera at 172 points

DXOMARK scores the iPhone 18 Pro at 172

DXOMARK has published its lab-based camera evaluation of the Apple iPhone 18 Pro, awarding the device 172 points and calling its overall camera performance excellent. The review, which reached Hacker News's front page after publication, draws on DXOMARK's objective lab measurements together with perceptual analysis across photo, zoom and video use cases.

According to DXOMARK, the phone pairs a wide dynamic range with improved contrast and skin tones, effective stabilization and a sensible balance between texture and noise. The variable aperture on the main camera is called out as a particular strength, since it noticeably improves the camera's ability to keep detail sharp in complex scenes and when several subjects share the frame. Autofocus is rated good overall, and flare is generally better handled than on the previous generation, with less diffuse flare in most situations — though DXOMARK notes that green spot artifacts can still occur, and that flare is clearly visible when the iris is stopped down.

The hardware behind the score

All three rear modules are 48 MP units. The primary camera is a 24 mm wide with a variable f/1.48–f/4.0 aperture, sensor-shift optical stabilization and Focus Pixels. The ultra-wide is a 13 mm f/2.2 module with a 120° field of view, and the telephoto is a 100 mm f/2.8 lens offering what DXOMARK lists as 8x optical zoom via a tetraprism design, also with sensor-shift stabilization.

Photo performance

In stills, DXOMARK reports generally accurate exposure backed by that wide dynamic range. Exposure can run slightly low in some backlit portrait scenes, but contrast rendering in those situations is described as particularly natural, keeping highlights and shadows in a convincing equilibrium. Texture rendering preserves a good level of fine detail, and DXOMARK observes fewer visible AI artifacts than on some competing devices — a notable data point as manufacturers lean harder into computational image processing.

Video performance

Video is rated excellent overall. DXOMARK highlights stabilization that stays smooth and natural even when the person shooting is running, along with a good texture-noise compromise. Outdoor footage benefits from the camera's strong dynamic range, and low-light video shows improved color rendering, particularly for skin tones. The main image-quality limitation in video is white balance, with visible color casts appearing in some conditions.

Where it falls short

Two weaknesses stand out from the otherwise positive assessment. Long-range telephoto performance lands slightly behind some competing flagship devices, and portrait mode does not apply a background blur effect in night scenes. DXOMARK's published sub-score comparisons also list devices such as Huawei's Pura 80 Ultra and Oppo's Find X9 Ultra at the top of individual categories, a reminder of how crowded the top tier of smartphone imaging has become.

Why it matters

For developers and creators, the review provides a concrete performance baseline for what will be one of the most widely used capture devices. The variable aperture changes assumptions that camera-dependent apps and computational photography pipelines might have made about fixed-aperture hardware, since depth-of-field and exposure behavior now adapt to scene complexity. The observation on reduced AI artifacts offers a rare cross-vendor check on how aggressive image processing holds up under lab scrutiny. And with Chinese flagships leading several of DXOMARK's sub-scores, the 172-point result frames Apple's camera as excellent but no longer unchallenged — useful context for anyone choosing capture hardware or calibrating expectations for mobile imaging this generation.