Apple has officially launched the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The new lineup brings a long list of upgrades. These include a variable-aperture main camera, the A20 Pro chip, a redesigned Dynamic Island, and longer battery life. Both models run on iOS 27. They also introduce a next-generation Siri built on Apple Intelligence. Additionally, Apple rolled out new Apple Watches and an all-new foldable iPhone, the Duo. That device is covered separately.
Design and Display
The standard Pro model comes with a 6.3-inch display. The Pro Max steps up to 6.9 inches. Both continue using Super Retina XDR OLED panels with ProMotion, and refresh rates still scale up to 120Hz. However, the most noticeable design shift is a smaller Dynamic Island. It now fits into a tighter space while still managing up to three Live Activities at once. Face ID remains the primary unlock method on both devices.
Apple offers the pair in four finishes. These include black, silver, glacier, and a new burgundy option. Furthermore, the phones adopt a redesigned vapor chamber for cooling. Apple says it triples the surface area compared to the iPhone 17 Pro. This can boost sustained performance by up to 40 percent.
Internals and Software
Both models run on the new A20 Pro chip. It uses a 2-nanometer process with a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU, and dual 16-core Neural Engine. Apple says memory bandwidth jumps 50 percent over the A19 Pro. GPU performance rises by up to 40 percent, while AI processing power doubles.
Meanwhile, the N1 chip takes over wireless duties. It adds support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. The new C2 modem also debuts here. It offers faster uploads than the previous C1X while using 15 percent less power, and it brings mmWave support in the United States. On the software side, iOS 27 introduces iPhone Handoff. This lets users switch between two iPhones without losing their phone number, provided their carrier supports it.
AI Features
The next generation of Apple Intelligence arrives alongside a new Siri experience. Apple first announced this back in June, and it now ships with the iPhone 18 lineup. Siri AI launches as a beta feature in iOS 27. It can draw on personal context from messages, emails, and photos to generate more relevant answers. It can also interpret what’s on screen and act accordingly.
Additionally, a new Siri mode in the Camera app can identify objects and scenes in real time. Apple Intelligence also expands its photo-editing toolkit. Spatial Reframing and Extend now adjust composition, while an improved Clean Up tool removes distractions. Image Playground now creates photorealistic images. Safari adds Notify Me for tracking webpage changes. Apple continues to split AI processing between on-device hardware and Private Cloud Compute.
Cameras
The centerpiece upgrade is the new 48MP Fusion Main camera. It marks the first time an iPhone has featured a variable aperture. Six laser-cut blades adjust automatically based on lighting and depth. The aperture widens to ƒ/1.48 in low light, settles at ƒ/1.8 for portraits, or narrows to ƒ/4 to keep more of the frame in focus. Users can also choose from four aperture settings manually..
Apple paired this with a new computational photography pipeline. The company says it sharpens detail and improves quality in low light and group shots. The camera system now includes Pro controls for manually adjusting aperture, shutter speed, and white balance. A histogram is also available for monitoring exposure. Photographic Styles gains new texture and grain adjustments too.
Video capture sees improvements as well. Cinematic effects can now be applied after filming, at up to 60 frames per second. Time-lapse recording supports 4K with Dolby Vision HDR. Audio Mix has been refined to improve voice clarity and isolate background music. Apple also introduced Reference Image. This system generates a tamper-proof image from signed sensor data at the moment of capture, allowing later comparison in the Photos app to verify whether edits were made.
Battery and Pricing
Battery life sees a solid jump. Apple states that eSIM-only versions deliver up to 36 hours of video playback on the standard Pro and up to 45 hours on the Pro Max. The iPhone 18 Pro can reach 50 percent charge in roughly 15 minutes via wired charging, or about 30 minutes wirelessly.
The Pro Max, meanwhile, can gain around seven hours of playback from just five minutes of wired charging. Apple’s updated usage model suggests up to 30 hours of use on a full charge. Pricing starts at $1,199 for the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro and $1,299 for the 256GB Pro Max. Both are available with 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage options. Notably, both starting prices reflect a $100 increase over last year’s iPhone 17 Pro lineup.
