CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Apple has announced the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, showcasing new camera hardware, enhanced processing power, and longer-lasting batteries. The devices feature a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera with an adjustable aperture. They are powered by the A20 Pro processor and include a redesigned vapor chamber to boost sustained performance. Additionally, Apple has made the Dynamic Island smaller while expanding its functionality. Preorders will start on September 12, with initial retail sales beginning September 18.
The new Main camera employs six laser-cut blades to manage aperture settings across four options. Users can directly modify aperture, shutter speed, and white balance within the Camera app. The interface now includes a histogram to assist in exposure monitoring during framing. Apple has upgraded Photographic Styles by adding new controls for texture and grain. For video, Cinematic effects can be applied after recording at up to 60 frames per second, and time-lapse recording now supports 4K video with Dolby Vision HDR.
A further camera feature, named Apple Reference Image, is designed for verifying photograph authenticity. This mode captures signed sensor data alongside a photo taken with the Main camera. Private Cloud Compute then processes this data into a reference image for comparison within the Photos app. Users can compare it with the original image to spot any visible alterations. Apple has also announced plans to introduce SynthID support later in 2026. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s global marketing chief, emphasized improvements in camera, performance, battery life, and intelligence during the launch event.
Variable aperture introduces new control options for iPhone photography
The A20 Pro chip is fabricated using a 2-nanometer process and features a six-core CPU along with a seven-core GPU. Apple claims the GPU offers performance up to 40% faster than the A19 Pro. The processor also includes a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, totaling 32 cores. A redesigned thermal system positions the processor closer to a larger vapor chamber, which provides three times more surface area than the previous version. Apple states this design results in up to 40% higher sustained performance.
Battery improvements are particularly notable on eSIM-only models, which use space that was formerly allocated for a physical SIM tray. The iPhone 18 Pro offers up to 36 hours of video playback according to Apple’s tests, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max can last up to 45 hours. Fast wired charging can bring the Pro to 50% in roughly 15 minutes. eSIM-only variants will launch in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, among other markets.
iOS 27 introduces Siri AI and broader Apple Intelligence features
All iPhone 18 Pro models run on iOS 27 and support the latest Apple Intelligence capabilities. Siri AI will enter beta on September 14 for supported devices configured in English, with support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish following in October. Siri AI can utilize personal context from messages, emails, and photos to respond more effectively. It can also act on information displayed on the screen. Cloud-based tasks supported by Private Cloud Compute, while other Apple Intelligence functions are processed directly on the device.
The starting price for the iPhone 18 Pro is $1,199 in the United States, and the Pro Max begins at $1,299. Customers have options for 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB of storage. The available colors include black, silver, glacier, and burgundy. Preorders open at 5 a.m. Pacific Time on September 12, with sales commencing on September 18 across more than 65 countries and regions. An additional 20 markets will join the launch on September 25, expanding the availability of Apple’s new Pro lineup.