Apple iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max launched with the A20 Pro chip, upgraded cameras, and battery
Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, introducing its latest flagship smartphones with major upgrades in performance, cameras, battery life, and AI features. The new Pro models bring the A20 Pro chip, a redesigned camera system with variable aperture, improved cooling, and the debut of Siri AI.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro series will begin on September 12, while the phones will officially go on sale starting September 18. Apple will also release iOS 27 as a free update on September 14, alongside the initial rollout of Apple Intelligence and the Siri AI beta.
Display and Design
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max keep Apple’s familiar Pro design language but bring a redesigned, smaller Dynamic Island that can now display up to three Live Activities at once while still handling Face ID duties. Both models feature an aluminum unibody, Ceramic Shield 2 on the front, and Ceramic Shield on the back.
Both phones use Super Retina XDR OLED panels with ProMotion (up to 120Hz adaptive refresh), Always-On display, HDR, True Tone, and wide color (P3) support, alongside a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and up to 3,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness. The iPhone 18 Pro has a 6.3-inch display at 2622×1206 resolution (460 ppi), while the Pro Max steps up to a 6.9-inch panel at 2868×1320 resolution, also at 460 ppi. Both are rated IP68 for dust and water resistance.
On dimensions, the iPhone 18 Pro measures 5.91 x 2.83 x 0.34 inches (150.0 x 71.9 x 8.75 mm) and weighs 7.44 ounces (211g). The larger iPhone 18 Pro Max comes in at 6.43 x 3.07 x 0.34 inches (163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm) and weighs 8.78 ounces (249g).
Apple will offer the new Pro models in four color options: Black, Silver, Glacier, and a new Burgundy finish.
Performance and OS
The iPhone 18 Pro series is powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro chipset, built on a 2nm process. It features a 6-core CPU with integrated Neural Accelerators, along with a 7-core GPU that Apple claims delivers up to 40% faster performance than the previous-generation A19 Pro.
The new chip also offers 50% more memory bandwidth and includes a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, which doubles the on-device AI processing capability compared to its predecessor.
Apple has also upgraded the internal cooling system to improve sustained performance. The new vapor chamber reportedly offers three times more surface area than the one used in the iPhone 17 Pro. Additionally, the company has introduced a new chip packaging design that separates the memory from the processor’s thermal path. Together, these improvements are claimed to deliver up to 40% better sustained performance.
On the software side, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max run iOS 27 and introduce Siri AI, an upgraded assistant powered by Apple Intelligence. The new Siri can understand personal context, analyze on-screen content, and perform actions across different apps.
Other iOS 27 features include Notify Me in Safari, upgraded Clean Up and Extend photo-editing tools, and iPhone Handoff, which allows users to switch between two iPhones using the same phone number.
Camera
One of the biggest upgrades for the iPhone 18 Pro series comes in the camera department. The new 48MP Fusion Main camera introduces variable aperture technology to an iPhone for the first time. No upgrades to the selfie camera, though; it’s the same 18MP lens.
The system uses six laser-cut blades that physically adjust the aperture opening, allowing the camera to better control light intake and depth of field. Users will also get more manual control through a new Pro controls panel in the Camera app, offering adjustments for aperture, shutter speed, and white balance, along with a live histogram.
Apple has also introduced a new computational imaging pipeline and upgraded Photographic Styles with additional texture and grain controls. Video capabilities have received improvements as well, including post-capture Cinematic effects at up to 60fps, 4K Dolby Vision time-lapse, and enhanced voice isolation through Audio Mix.
Another notable addition is Apple Reference Image. The feature cryptographically signs captured sensor data to create an unalterable reference image, which users can later compare with edited versions in the Photos app. This could help verify image authenticity, particularly for journalists and other users who need to confirm whether an image has been modified.
Battery and Others
Apple claims that the iPhone 18 Pro series delivers its biggest generational improvement in battery life yet. According to EU Energy Labels, the iPhone 18 Pro packs a 4,056mAh battery, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max features a larger 5,391mAh cell. This marks a 1.45% increase for the Pro and an 11.8% increase for the Pro Max compared to their predecessors.
These capacities apply to EU models with a physical SIM slot, while eSIM-only versions sold in other markets have larger batteries due to the extra internal space. Apple rates the eSIM-only iPhone 18 Pro for up to 36 hours of video playback and the Pro Max for up to 45 hours.
Both batteries are rated to retain at least 80% capacity after 1,000 charge cycles. The phones also support faster wired charging, with the Pro reaching 50% in around 15 minutes.
Connectivity has received an upgrade with Apple’s new N1 wireless chip, which supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. The phones also feature Apple’s next-generation C2 cellular modem, promising faster upload speeds, improved power efficiency, and mmWave support in the US.
iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max Price
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299. Both models will be available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage configurations.
Pre-orders will open on September 12 at 5 a.m. PT across more than 65 countries and regions. The first sale will begin on September 18, followed by availability in an additional 20 markets from September 25.
