After testing the iPhone 18 Pro's wider aperture with portrait photos, the author postponed a Night mode duration test to capture a rare cruise liner passing through Tower Bridge. This provided an ideal opportunity to evaluate the device's night video capabilities. The article explains that while iPhones have excelled in low-light still photography thanks to computational photography and Night mode portraits introduced in 2020, video remains challenging due to the need for 24+ frames per second, limiting multi-exposure blending.
The iPhone 18 Pro improves night video performance through annual processing enhancements and a wider aperture that captures more light—critical for video. The author recorded over nine minutes of footage, sped it to 10x for a 96-second clip, and included real-speed segments to highlight tugboat precision. Though not perfect, the results show clear generational improvement, with the author concluding that night video is now 'good enough for most people to enjoy' even in extreme conditions like this.
Source: 9to5Mac · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing