The new iPhone 18 Pro climbs to second in DxOMark’s global camera rankings, showcasing significant improvements in low-light and video performance, but still trailing Huawei’s Pura 80 Ultra due to minor limitations.
Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro has moved into second place in DxOMark’s global camera rankings, scoring 172 points and finishing just behind Huawei’s Pura 80 Ultra on 175. In DxOMark’s premium category for phones priced above $800, the handset also took second place, underlining how closely Apple now trails the market leader in stills and video imaging. DxOMark said the result marks a four-point improvement over the iPhone 17 Pro.
The review gave particular credit to the phone’s low-light performance, describing its ability to hold detail, exposure and noise control in difficult lighting. It also recorded the best video score in DxOMark’s database at 176 points, helped by stabilisation that remained smooth even when the subject was moving. According to DxOMark, the iPhone 18 Pro also set a new benchmark for low-light photography with a score of 150.
Apple’s latest Pro models use three 48-megapixel cameras for the main, ultra-wide and telephoto lenses. The main camera is the first on an iPhone to feature a physical variable aperture, with six moving blades that shift between f/1.48 and f/4.0. That gives the camera more control over depth of field, which should help both portrait work and scene separation, according to the review.
Even so, the phone did not top the chart. DxOMark pointed to minor colour casts, occasional white-balance shifts, flare in some lighting conditions and weaker long-range zoom as the main shortcomings. Notebookcheck said those telephoto limitations were a key reason the device missed first place, while Gizmochina noted that the score still places it among the strongest camera phones currently tested.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
