Apple has launched the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max with a new variable-aperture main camera, the A20 Pro chip, a redesigned Dynamic Island, longer battery life, and new AI capabilities.
The two Pro models also bring Apple’s new C2 cellular modem and N1 wireless networking chip. Both phones run iOS 27 and introduce a new version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence.
Apple has also launched new Apple Watches and an all-new foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, which will be covered in a separate article.
Design and Display
The iPhone 18 Pro has a 6.3-inch display, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max uses a larger 6.9-inch panel. Both retain Apple’s Super Retina XDR OLED display technology and ProMotion, with adaptive refresh rates reaching 120Hz.
One of the most visible changes is the smaller Dynamic Island. Apple has redesigned it to occupy less space while allowing it to display up to three Live Activities at the same time. Face ID remains integrated into the system for authentication and unlocking.
Apple is offering both phones in four finishes: black, silver, glacier, and the new burgundy color.
The phones also use a new vapor chamber for thermal management. Apple says the redesigned system has three times more surface area than the previous-generation iPhone 17 Pro and can enable up to a 40 percent improvement in sustained performance.
Internals and Software
Both phones are powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro chip. It is built using a 2-nanometer manufacturing process and includes a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU and a dual 16-core Neural Engine.
Apple says the A20 Pro provides 50 percent more memory bandwidth than the A19 Pro. Its GPU can deliver up to 40 percent higher performance than the previous generation, while the Neural Engine provides twice the AI processing power.
Wireless connectivity is handled by Apple’s N1 chip, which supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread.
The phones also introduce Apple’s C2 cellular modem. Apple says it provides faster uploads than the previous C1X modem while using 15 percent less energy. The C2 also supports mmWave connectivity in the U.S.
Both models ship with iOS 27. The software also introduces iPhone Handoff, allowing users with supported carriers to switch between two iPhones while keeping the same phone number.
AI Features
The iPhone 18 Pro models introduce the next generation of Apple Intelligence alongside a new Siri AI experience. This was already announced in June, but it is now making its debut with the new iPhone 18 family.
Siri AI is available as a beta feature with iOS 27. It can use personal context from information such as messages, emails, and photos to provide more relevant responses. It can also understand what is displayed on the screen and take actions based on that information.
A new Siri mode in the Camera app can identify and provide information about objects and scenes in front of the camera.
Apple Intelligence also adds new image-editing capabilities. Users can use Spatial Reframing and Extend to change the composition of images, while an upgraded Clean Up tool can remove unwanted elements.
Image Playground can now generate photorealistic images, while Safari gains Notify Me for tracking changes to webpages.
Apple says its AI processing uses a combination of on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute.
Cameras
The biggest camera change is the new 48MP Fusion Main camera. For the first time on an iPhone, the main camera has a variable aperture.
The lens uses six laser-cut blades that adjust the aperture according to lighting and depth-of-field requirements. It can automatically widen the aperture to ƒ/1.48 for low-light photography, use ƒ/1.8 for portraits, or narrow it to ƒ/4 to keep more subjects in focus. Users can also manually select among four aperture settings.
Apple has also introduced a new computational photography pipeline for the main camera. The company says it improves detail and image quality, particularly in low-light conditions and group photos.
The Camera app now includes Pro controls that provide manual control over aperture, shutter speed, and white balance. Users can also display a histogram to monitor exposure.
Photographic Styles gains new texture and grain controls, giving users more control over the appearance of photos.
Video recording also gets new options. Cinematic effects can now be applied after recording to video captured at up to 60 frames per second. Time-lapse recording supports 4K and Dolby Vision HDR.
Audio Mix has also been updated with algorithms designed to improve voice quality and isolate music.
Another new camera feature is Apple Reference Image. The system can create an unalterable reference image based on signed sensor data captured when a photograph is taken. The reference image can then be compared with the edited version in the Photos app to help determine whether changes were made.
Battery and Pricing
Battery life is another major upgrade. Apple says eSIM-only versions can provide up to 36 hours of video playback on the iPhone 18 Pro and up to 45 hours on the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The iPhone 18 Pro can charge to 50 percent in around 15 minutes using wired charging. Wireless charging can reach 50 percent in about 30 minutes.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max can provide around seven hours of video playback after five minutes of wired charging. Apple also says its new battery usage model indicates up to 30 hours of usage on a full charge.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 for 256GB, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299 for 256GB. Both models are available with 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB of storage.
The $1,199 starting price represents a $100 increase over the previous-generation iPhone 17 Pro, while the Pro Max also costs $100 more at the entry level.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Specifications
| Specification | iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, 1206 x 2622 pixels, HDR10, Dolby Vision | 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, 1320 x 2868 pixels, HDR10, Dolby Vision |
| Colors | Black, silver, glacier, burgundy | Black, silver, glacier, burgundy |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB NVMe | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB NVMe |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB |
| Chip | A20 Pro, 2nm | A20 Pro, 2nm |
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x GHz high performance + 4x GHz) | Hexa-core (2x GHz high performance + 4x GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (7-core graphics) | Apple GPU (7-core graphics) |
| Operating system | iOS 27 | iOS 27 |
| Main Cameras | 48 MP, f/1.6-4.0, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28″, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 48 MP, f/2.8, 100mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55″, 0.7µm, PDAF, 3D sensor‑shift OIS, 4x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, 0.7µm, PDAF |
48 MP, f/1.6-4.0, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28″, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 48 MP, f/2.8, 100mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55″, 0.7µm, PDAF, 3D sensor‑shift OIS, 4x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, 0.7µm, PDAF |
| Selfie Camera | 18 MP multi-aspect, f/1.9, 20mm (ultrawide), PDAF | 18 MP multi-aspect, f/1.9, 20mm (ultrawide), PDAF |
| Battery | Market-dependent versions: · Li-Ion 4056 mAh – Nano SIM model · Li-Ion 4288 mAh – eSIM-only model |
Market-dependent versions: · Li-Ion 5391 mAh – Nano SIM model · Li-Ion 5567 mAh – eSIM only model |
| Charging | 25W wireless MagSafe/Qi2, 50% in 30 min (15W – China) 4.5W reverse wired |
25W wireless MagSafe/Qi2, 50% in 30 min (15W – China) 4.5W reverse wired |
| Price | $1,199 | $1,299 |
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