iPhone 18 Pro Ultra-Stabilized Video Impresses in Thames Riverboat Test, 9to5Mac Says
A Sept. 29, 2026, 9to5Mac article says the iPhone 18 Pro's built-in ultra-stabilized video kept a level horizon during a Thames riverboat trip, a performance the writer compared with high-end professional gimbals and marine gyro mounts.
The article said the writer first discussed iPhone video stabilization when testing the iPhone 13 Pro in 2021. It has improved significantly since then, and both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro have a version Apple calls "ultra-stabilized video," according to the report.
The article said that while stabilization may not sound as appealing as some other features, it makes a massive difference to the usability of the iPhone for handheld shooting, and the latest test showed how good it is today. The writer normally carries a mini tripod and a GorillaPod when planning to shoot iPhone video, but the iPhone is the camera always at hand. When a shot appears without a tripod, the writer often improvises by leaning the iPhone against a railing or bracing against something such as a lamppost. At other times, the writer relies on the iPhone's built-in stabilization. In the most recent example, shooting with the iPhone 18 Pro, the writer said the result was incredibly impressive.
According to the article, a riverboat trip down the Thames demonstrated that there are times when the iPhone's built-in video stabilization is better than a tripod. The boat rocked around a fair bit, which would have meant a stable shot of the boat with the scenery outside moving around. The iPhone reliably stabilized to the outside world while the boat moved around in the foreground.
The article said the ability to keep the horizon true regardless of the platform's movements is not available with a typical gimbal. Most consumer-grade gimbals smooth out movement rather than eliminating it, it said. Only high-end professional gimbals and gyro mounts designed for marine and helicopter use provide truly locked horizons, according to the report.
The article said the iPhone 18 Pro's ultra-stabilization feature delivers this level of performance. It described that as an incredible feature to have as standard in the stock Camera app with no external hardware required.
The article included sample footage and said the Tower Bridge section was probably the best showcase for the feature. It added that viewers could switch on captions for bridge names and a few other comments, including a mention of Apple's UK campus.