Apple today announced Apple Reference Image, an opt-in feature for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max that helps users prove a photo has not been altered since it was taken. When enabled in the new Reference mode, the feature captures signed sensor data at the pixel level and turns that data into an unalterable reference image associated with the photo.
How Apple Reference Image works
Apple Reference Image is powered by a new sensor in the Main camera that signs sensor data at the pixel level at the moment of capture. The signed data is sent to Private Cloud Compute, which develops it into what Apple calls an unalterable reference image, “like having a digital negative.” Reference images appear in the Photos app alongside their corresponding photos so users can visually compare them to check whether edits were made.
Apple is also providing APIs in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS 27 so third-party apps can display these reference images alongside photos in their interfaces.
The company framed Apple Reference Image as part of a broader effort on image authenticity that includes existing image metadata and upcoming support for the SynthID standard. Apple said SynthID support will arrive in a software update later this year and will be included with most edited images, depending on which edits were applied.
Apple Reference Image capture will not be available at launch in China due to regulatory requirements. In the EU, capture on the iPhone 18 Pro models also will not be available at launch, but users running iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 will still be able to develop and view reference images.
