CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Apple has unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro along with the iPhone 18 Pro Max, featuring a new camera system with adjustable aperture and the A20 Pro chip. The latest models also offer extended battery life, advanced professional camera controls, and a more compact Dynamic Island. Both devices operate on iOS 27 and incorporate Apple Intelligence features, including Siri AI. The lineup is available in black, silver, glacier, and burgundy. Preorders commence on September 12, with the first retail sales starting on September 18.
The 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera marks the debut of aperture control on the iPhone. Six laser-cut blades shift between four aperture settings to regulate light intake and depth of field. Users can manually select these settings within the Camera app. Additionally, new Pro controls offer direct access to shutter speed and white balance adjustments. A histogram provides photographers with real-time exposure monitoring while framing shots. Apple has also expanded Photographic Styles, now including texture and grain controls for further image fine-tuning before sharing.
Video recording capabilities see notable improvements across the iPhone 18 Pro series. Users can apply Cinematic effects after filming at up to 60 frames per second. The new Time-lapse mode records in 4K with Dolby Vision HDR. Enhanced Audio Mix algorithms improve voice clarity and can isolate music. The innovative Apple Reference Image feature captures signed sensor data in an optional Reference mode. Private Cloud Compute then processes this data to generate a reference image, which users can compare with the original photo inside the Photos app.
Camera upgrades emphasize control and image validation
The A20 Pro processor, built using a 2-nanometer process, combines a six-core CPU with a seven-core GPU. Apple claims the GPU offers performance boosts of up to 40% compared to the A19 Pro. A Dual 16-core Neural Engine provides 32 cores dedicated to AI processing and computational photography tasks. The thermal system has been redesigned around a next-generation vapor chamber, which is three times larger in surface area than its predecessor. This design supports up to 40% higher sustained performance, according to Apple’s testing results.
Battery life sees improvements across both Pro models, with eSIM-only variants gaining extra capacity thanks to the space freed by the removal of the physical SIM tray. The iPhone 18 Pro can reach up to 36 hours of video playback in Apple’s testing conditions, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max can last up to 45 hours. Wired charging can bring the Pro model to 50% charge in approximately 15 minutes. eSIM-only models will be available in Bahrain, Canada, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other supported regions.
Siri AI and iOS 27 Drive Software Enhancements
iOS 27 introduces Siri AI to the new phones as part of the latest Apple Intelligence update. Siri AI begins a beta rollout on September 14 for compatible devices configured in English. Support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish is scheduled for October. The virtual assistant can utilize personal context from messages, emails, and photos upon user request. It is also capable of responding to on-screen content and assisting via the Camera app. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s worldwide marketing chief, highlighted improvements in camera, performance, battery, and intelligence.
Pricing for the iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 in the United States, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max begins at $1,299. Both models are available with storage options of 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB. Customers in over 65 countries and regions can pre-order the devices starting at 5 a.m. Pacific Time on September 12. The first wave of markets will see sales beginning on September 18, followed by another 20 countries and regions receiving the new models on September 25 as part of the scheduled rollout.