Apple has announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, bringing a new camera system, a faster chip, and a bigger battery.
A Camera Built Around Variable Aperture
The biggest change is in the camera. The new 48MP Fusion Main camera includes variable aperture, a first for iPhone. Six laser-cut blades adjust the aperture automatically depending on the lighting and depth of field needed for a shot, opening as wide as f/1.48 in low light.
Photographers who want more control can set the aperture manually across four settings, and Apple is also releasing an API so third-party apps can access the full aperture range.
A new sensor and computational imaging pipeline are meant to produce sharper images, including better detail in low light and in the background of group photos. Photographic Styles now include texture and grain controls for further adjusting how photos look.
Video gets some updates too. Cinematic effects can now be applied after filming to footage shot at up to 60 fps. Time-lapse video now supports 4K and Dolby Vision HDR. Audio Mix has been improved to isolate music in addition to voices.
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Proving a Photo Is Real
Apple has introduced a feature called Apple Reference Image, aimed at verifying whether a photo has been edited. When shooting in Reference mode, the camera signs the sensor data it captures, and Apple’s Private Cloud Compute turns that into a reference file that can’t be altered.
Users can pull up this reference image next to the original in the Photos app to check for edits.
Apple says this, combined with image metadata and upcoming support for the SynthID watermarking standard, is meant to help people tell whether an image was created or altered using AI.
A Bigger Dynamic Island
The Dynamic Island has been redesigned to show up to three Live Activities at once, up from its previous limit. It continues to house Face ID for unlocking the phone and authenticating purchases.
A20 Pro Chip
The new A20 Pro chip is built on a 2-nanometer manufacturing process. It has a 6-core CPU with integrated Neural Accelerators, and Apple says it outperforms competing chips. The 7-core GPU is up to 40% faster than last year’s A19 Pro.
There’s also a new Dual 16-core Neural Engine with 32 total cores, which Apple says doubles the AI processing power compared to the A19 Pro.
Memory bandwidth is up 50% over the previous chip. Apple also redesigned the internal packaging, placing the chip next to memory rather than stacking them, so the chip can connect directly to a larger vapor chamber for cooling.
That vapor chamber has three times more surface area than the one in the iPhone 17 Pro, and Apple says it allows for up to 40% better sustained performance under heavy use.
Both phones include Apple’s N1 wireless chip, supporting Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. The iPhone 18 Pro also introduces the C2 modem, which Apple says improves upload speeds over the previous C1X modem while using 15% less power.
Battery Life and Charging
Both phones get notably longer battery life. The eSIM-only iPhone 18 Pro is rated for up to 36 hours of video playback, and the eSIM-only iPhone 18 Pro Max for up to 45 hours.
Charging is faster too. The iPhone 18 Pro can reach 50% charge in about 15 minutes with a cable, or 30 minutes wirelessly. On the Pro Max, just 5 minutes on a charger is enough for roughly seven hours of video playback.
eSIM-only models free up the space previously used by a physical SIM card, which Apple used to fit a larger battery, adding about two hours of extra video playback.
These eSIM-only versions will be sold in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and several other countries, alongside markets with over 500 supporting carriers.
iOS 27 and a New Siri
The phones ship with iOS 27, which includes Apple Intelligence and a new version of Siri called Siri AI. Apple describes it as more conversational and better able to use personal context, pulling from messages, emails, and photos to help with tasks.
It can also act on whatever is currently on the user’s screen.
A Camera app feature lets Siri identify and provide information about objects the camera is pointed at.
Other Apple Intelligence features include Spatial Reframing and Extend for adjusting photo composition after the fact, an upgraded Clean Up tool, and a version of Image Playground that can generate more realistic images.
In Safari, a new Notify Me feature can track web pages for changes, such as restocks or price drops.
Apple says on-device processing and its Private Cloud Compute system are used to keep these AI features private.
iOS 27 also brings updated parental controls and a feature called iPhone Handoff, which lets someone switch between two iPhones using the same phone number, as long as their carrier supports it.
Design and Accessories
The phones come in four finishes: black, silver, glacier, and a new burgundy. New accessories include Silicone Cases, TechWoven Cases, Crossbody Straps, and FineWoven Wallets in matching colors.
A redesigned Clear Case now works with the Crossbody Strap and a new Wrist Strap, which is made from recycled polyester and uses magnets to stay in place. The Wrist Strap comes in six colors and can also carry AirPods Pro.
Price and Storage
Both phones come in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage options. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299. Pre-orders open on September 12, with the phones reaching stores on September 18.
