iPhone 18 Pro & 18 Pro Max: Beastgrip Gear Compatibility & First Tests

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are here, and we’ve been busy testing them with Beastgrip gear.

The good news: compatibility is excellent. Our rigs, lenses, DOF Adapter MK3, and accessories work great with the new devices. And with the new variable aperture and Photographic Styles, the iPhone 18 Pro camera system opens up some interesting new creative possibilities when combined with external optics.

Here’s a quick compatibility overview based on our testing so far.

Both the Beastgrip Pro and Beastclamp are fully compatible with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.

The Beastgrip Pro remains a great choice if you want a complete universal rig. It supports Beastgrip lenses and the DOF Adapter MK3, provides multiple mounting points for filmmaking accessories, can be mounted on a tripod, and includes an integrated grip for handheld shooting.

Because it’s universal, it’s also a great option if you frequently change phones or use multiple devices.

For a smaller setup, the Beastclamp is fully compatible as well, providing a compact and minimalist way to rig the new iPhones.

Our new Beastcage 18 Pro and Beastcage 18 Pro Max are designed specifically around the new devices and are currently available for preorder.

For a limited time, Beastcage 18 Series preorders also include a free accessory bundle featuring the new 58mm Filter Mount Plate, 58–77mm adapter ring, and Beastcage Carrying Case — a $76.97 value.

There’s good news here too.

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max fit inside the corresponding Beastcage 17 Series models. However, the camera module on the new phones protrudes slightly farther, reducing the clearance between the camera and existing lens mounting plates.

You can use the 17 Series cage with the new phones, but for the proper fit and clearance we recommend upgrading to our new iPhone 18 Series lens mounting plates.

So if you already own a Beastcage 17 Series, there’s no need to replace the entire cage. And if you need a cage right now, the 17 Series can also be used as an immediate solution while the dedicated 18 Series cages are on preorder.

The existing Beastcage ecosystem, including Beastmod, handles, rails, mounts, and other accessories, also carries over to the new cages.

All of our current Beastgrip lenses are compatible with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, and our first tests with the new variable aperture are very promising.

Stopping down the main camera improves detail toward the edges of the frame when using external optics. Around f/4, we’re seeing particularly balanced results across the image.

The difference can be subtle, we’re getting into pixel-peeping territory, but it is noticeable, especially when looking closely at fine detail toward the edges.

Our anamorphic lenses show an especially interesting improvement when shooting 4:3 Open Gate. Stopping down significantly improves detail toward the top and bottom of the frame, areas that extend beyond the traditional 16:9 image area our anamorphic optics were originally designed around.

Stopping down also increases depth of field, which can help when focusing closer with an anamorphic lens.

At the other end, shooting wide open gives you shallower native depth of field at close focusing distances. So rather than having one “best” aperture, the iPhone 18 Pro gives us more creative control depending on the shot.

The DOF Adapter MK3 is fully compatible, and it also benefits from the new aperture control.

Stopping down, particularly around f/4, produces noticeably better-defined details toward the sides of the frame.

This doesn’t change the shallow depth of field created by the photo or cinema lens projecting its image onto the focusing screen. Instead, the smaller aperture helps the iPhone camera capture that projected image more consistently across the screen.

Combine that with the new Photographic Styles and grain, and we’re seeing some really beautiful, organic-looking results.

Our testing with the upcoming DOF Adapter Фoton has also been extremely promising.

At f/4, we’re seeing excellent detail across the frame, particularly for wider and infinity-focused shots. But Фoton also performs very well with the iPhone aperture wide open, where the slightly softer rendering can be combined with additional native depth separation for close-ups.

Once again, having aperture control gives us more options rather than one setting that works for everything.

These are only our first results.

The important takeaway is that Beastgrip rigs and optics work great with the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, and the new camera controls give us even more ways to use them.

Variable aperture, Open Gate capture, Photographic Styles, external lenses, anamorphic optics, the DOF Adapter MK3, and Фoton create a lot of combinations to explore.

We’ll be sharing more detailed tests, photos, comparisons, and videos soon. In the meantime, check out our latest podcast below, where we discuss our first impressions, compatibility testing, and what we’ve learned so far from shooting with the new iPhones.