Apple Quietly Excludes Older iPhones From New Camera Feature

Apple's new Texture and Grain controls for Photographic Styles are not available on iPhones other than the latest iPhone 18 Pro models and upcoming iPhone Duo, despite the company's original wording suggesting otherwise. When Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max earlier this month, its Newsroom press release said the new Texture and Grain controls would be "available in iOS 27 on iPhone models that support the latest generation of Photographic Styles." That original wording is preserved in copies of Apple's launch-day press release distributed through Business Wire and Notice Nearby. Elsewhere, in Apple's User Guide for iOS 27, devices that support the "latest generation Photographic Styles" are listed as the iPhone 16 series, iPhone 17 series, iPhone Air, and iPhone 18 Pro models. Apple has since changed the footnote on its iPhone 18 Pro Newsroom announcement. It now says Texture and Grain controls are available "only for photos captured on iPhone 18 Pro models and with the Ultra Wide, Main, and Center Stage cameras on the iPhone Duo." Apple also states definitively in its iOS 27 User Guide that changing the texture of a photo can be achieved "on iPhone 18 Pro models." wtf? Apple now says that the texture and grain will NOT be coming to older iPhones there's no reason why this shouldn't be coming to older iPhones this is what i despise about Apple. new software camera features almost never make it to older iPhones, even though those are... https://t.co/8FM6MQV01F pic.twitter.com/yiO1nDiuFF — Noah Cat (@Cartidise) September 22, 2026 Whether Apple initially intended to bring the controls to older devices and subsequently changed its plans is unclear, and Apple has not commented on the revision. Either way, the original compatibility information looks like it was published in error. Photographic Styles are tone presets that adjust the color and warmth of a photo, while preserving skin tones. If you have an iPhone 18 Pro, check out our how-to guide to make the most out of the feature. Popular StoriesSiri AI Settlement Website Now Live: Apple to Pay Some iPhone OwnersSunday September 20, 2026 7:24 pm PDT by Joe RossignolIn May, Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle a U.S. class action lawsuit over Siri AI's delayed launch, and the settlement website is now live. Apple will pay an estimated $25 per eligible iPhone to eligible customers, who can submit a claim via the settlement website between September 21 and December 21 of this year. The exact payment may be higher or lower than $25 depending on the...iPhone 18 Pro Max Requires 'Prepare to Ship' Battery Drain Before ShippingFriday September 18, 2026 4:27 pm PDT by Juli CloverThe iPhone 18 Pro Max has a battery capacity over 20 watt-hours, which means there are additional shipping requirements. If an iPhone 18 Pro Max needs to be shipped somewhere, its maximum battery capacity has to be limited through firmware. According to Apple, the iPhone 18 Pro Max uses an "innovative battery-firmware solution" that limits battery capacity to below 20Wh between when the...Apple Exec Says 'Hold Us Accountable' on iPhone Duo CreaseFriday September 18, 2026 9:51 pm PDT by Juli CloverApple hardware engineering VP Tom Marieb spoke with TechRadar and shared some candid thoughts about Apple's upcoming iPhone Duo. The iPhone Duo uses a matte nano-texture display, which is meant to cut down on glare and minimize the visibility of the crease. When asked if the iPhone Duo's crease would be more visible over time, as that's what tends to happen on other foldables, Marieb said...