Apple narrows iOS 27 texture and grain controls to photos shot on iPhone 18 Pro, limiting older models

Apple has revised its press materials to clarify that the new texture and grain adjustments in Photographic Styles are only available when editing images captured on iPhone 18 Pro models, contrary to earlier wording that suggested the feature would work on older iPhones running iOS 27.

Updated: 2026-09-23 12:14 UTC

The original release, issued the day before the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro preorder launch, listed iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 17 series, iPhone Air, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo as supporting the new texture and grain controls on iOS 27.

The discrepancy became evident when a Reddit user and the article’s author were able to adjust texture and grain on an iPhone 16 Pro Max only while editing sample photos taken with an iPhone 18 Pro, but not on images they had captured themselves on the same device.

Apple’s latest press update removes the earlier list of compatible models and confines the feature to images taken with the newest hardware, effectively limiting older iPhone owners from using the full suite of Photographic Styles enhancements.

The Verge has reached out to Apple for further clarification on how the feature will function on legacy devices; the company has not yet responded.

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