Apple Clarifies New Texture and Grain Photo Controls Are Limited to Latest iPhones

Apple has clarified that its new texture and grain controls for stylizing photos will be more limited on older iPhone models than the company's initial announcement suggested.

The features were introduced alongside the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro earlier this month. A press release from Apple had indicated the new controls would be "available" on older devices, including the iPhone 16 and iPhone Air, but the company has since clarified that availability on those models will be reduced compared with the newest phones.

The texture and grain tools allow users to adjust the visual character of photos, adding stylistic effects reminiscent of film grain or specific textures, as part of Apple's ongoing updates to its Camera and Photos software.

Apple has not detailed the exact differences in functionality between the latest iPhones and older supported models, and further specifics are expected as the features roll out more broadly.

The clarification follows confusion among some users and reviewers over the scope of the new features following Apple's original announcement.