CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Apple has announced the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, featuring an adjustable-aperture camera, extended battery life, and the latest A20 Pro chip. These flagship devices also introduce advanced manual camera controls and a redesigned Dynamic Island. Both models come preloaded with iOS 27 and support Siri AI powered by Apple Intelligence. Preorders begin on September 12, and the phones will be available starting September 18 across more than 65 countries and regions.
The 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera now provides users with four aperture options. Six laser-cut blades regulate the lens opening to control depth of field and improve light intake. Additionally, users can adjust shutter speed and white balance directly within the Camera app. The new Pro controls include a histogram for exposure assessment. Video capabilities feature Cinematic effects at up to 60 frames per second after recording, and time-lapse recording now supports 4K resolution with Dolby Vision HDR.
The camera system introduces Reference Image, which captures signed sensor data when Reference mode is activated. The feature leverages Private Cloud Compute to transform this data into a reference image, allowing users to compare images within the Photos app. Its purpose is to assist in verifying if an image has changed post-capture. Support for SynthID will be delivered through a software update later this year. Greg Joswiak, senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, stated that the lineup advances camera technology, performance, battery life, and intelligence.
The revamped camera system offers enhanced manual controls
The A20 Pro chip is built using a 2-nanometer process, integrating a six-core CPU and a seven-core GPU. It also features a Dual 16-core Neural Engine with 32 total cores. Apple claims that the GPU is up to 40% faster than the A19 Pro. The device’s thermal management includes a redesigned vapor chamber that increases cooling surface area, working in tandem with updated chip packaging to sustain higher performance during intensive tasks.
Battery life has improved across both Pro models, especially for eSIM-only variants. The iPhone 18 Pro offers up to 36 hours of video playback, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max extends that to 45 hours. Wired charging can bring the battery to 50% in approximately 15 minutes. eSIM-only versions are set to debut in markets such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, along with several other countries outside the Middle East.
Siri AI broadens Apple Intelligence features on iOS 27
Preloaded with iOS 27, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max introduce the latest Apple Intelligence features. Siri AI enters beta on September 14 for supported devices set to English, with support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish expected in October. Siri AI can analyze messages, emails, and photos when users request information, respond to on-screen content, and assist with tasks via the Camera app.
Starting at $1,199 in the United States, the iPhone 18 Pro begins at that price point, while the Pro Max starts at $1,299. Buyers can select storage options of 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB. Color choices include black, silver, glacier, and burgundy. Preorders open at 5 a.m. Pacific Time on September 12, with sales beginning on September 18 in the initial wave of markets. An additional 20 countries and regions will receive the iPhone 18 Pro lineup starting September 25.