iPhone 18 Pro scores 172 at DxOMark, ranks second globally

DxOMark gave the iPhone 18 Pro an overall score of 172, placing it second in the lab's rankings and in the premium category for phones costing more than $800, three points behind the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra at 175.

The ranking and scores come from DxOMark's full camera evaluation. The lab also notes that Huawei's Pura 80 Ultra has led the DxOMark camera chart since August 2025 and remains in first place.

Image and video performance

DxOMark awarded the iPhone 18 Pro a low-light photography score of 150, which the company identifies as the highest result in this specific category across its rankings. According to DxOMark, the phone performs well in difficult lighting for detail capture, accurate exposure, and noise control, and it delivers broad dynamic range and natural contrast.

Video stabilization earned positive marks as well. DxOMark reports that stabilization remains effective when the camera is moving, and that recording at 60 frames per second contributes to improved motion rendering.

DxOMark's findings show the iPhone 18 Pro excels in low-light stills and stabilized video but is outscored by rivals in telephoto and long-range zoom performance.

Hardware and telephoto limits

Hardware highlights include a physical six-blade variable aperture that can shift from f/1.48 to f/4.0. DxOMark notes this capability can help include more subjects in focus for group shots and offers manual control options. The iPhone 18 Pro uses three rear 48-megapixel cameras.

DxOMark evaluated the telephoto module at 143 points, a weaker result compared with some competitors; the Oppo Find X9 Ultra holds the highest telephoto score at 173 in DxOMark's tests. The lab also reports that the iPhone 18 Pro's long-range zoom performance falls behind several flagship rivals.

DxOMark flagged additional issues including occasional unwanted color tints and white balance shifts, visible flare in some shooting conditions, and brightness differences between photo and video preview modes.

Huawei's Pura 80 Ultra, with its 175 DxOMark score, has remained at the top of the ranking since August 2025.