Apple Should Steal These Android Camera Tricks for the iPhone 18 Pro

Apple’s iPhone 18 could finally close the camera gap with Android — if it steals the right tricks. The Cupertino giant has long dominated premium smartphone photography, but Android rivals like Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi have leapfrogged Apple in several key areas: periscope zoom lenses, AI-powered photo editing, and computational photography that goes beyond simple portraits. The iPhone 18 Pro, expected in late 2025, is Apple’s best chance to reclaim the crown.

The most obvious feature Apple should copy is the periscope zoom telephoto lens. Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra offers 5x optical zoom and 100x digital zoom, while Google’s Pixel 8 Pro delivers 30x Super Res Zoom that rivals dedicated cameras. Apple’s current iPhone 15 Pro Max tops out at 5x optical zoom — competitive but not market-leading. Adding a folded-lens periscope system for 10x optical zoom would give iPhone users the reach they’ve been asking for.

Another area where Android shines is AI photo editing. Google’s Magic Eraser, Best Take, and Photo Unblur are integrated directly into the camera app, letting users remove unwanted objects, swap faces, and fix blurry shots without third-party apps. Apple’s Photos app has basic editing tools, but no equivalent to Magic Eraser. Rumors suggest iOS 18 may include on-device AI editing, but Apple needs to go further — think generative fill for old photos, or AI-powered portrait relighting that matches professional studio setups.

Night mode is another battleground. While Apple’s Night Mode is good, Android devices like the Pixel 8 Pro and vivo X100 Pro capture stunning low-light shots with less noise and better dynamic range. Apple’s reliance on longer exposure times without dedicated night mode for ultra-wide or telephoto lenses leaves room for improvement. The iPhone 18 could use larger sensors and advanced image signal processing to match or beat Android’s low-light performance.

Video recording is an area where iPhone still leads, but Android is catching up. Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra now supports 8K video at 30fps with improved stabilization, and the Pixel 8 Pro’s Video Boost uses cloud AI to enhance footage. Apple needs to offer 8K video on all pro models, add cinematic stabilization modes, and introduce AI-assisted video editing — for example, automatically removing background noise or tracking subjects in post-production.

Battery life and charging speed also impact the camera experience. Android phones routinely offer 45W to 120W wired charging and 15W to 23W wireless charging. Apple’s current 27W wired charging and 15W MagSafe are lagging. Faster charging would let users shoot more without worrying about battery drain. Apple could also adopt reverse wireless charging, already standard on Samsung and Google phones, to power AirPods or an Apple Watch from the iPhone.

Finally, Apple should consider opening its camera API to third-party developers. Android’s Camera2 API allows apps like Lightroom and ProCam to access raw modes, manual controls, and custom processing. Apple’s lock-down approach limits creative possibilities. An open API would attract professional photographers and further cement the iPhone as a serious tool.

The iPhone 18 Pro has the potential to be the best camera phone ever — but only if Apple swallows its pride and borrows the best ideas from Android. With WWDC 2025 and the expected September launch, the clock is ticking. Apple must decide: maintain its walled garden, or adopt the innovations that keep its rivals ahead in the camera race.