CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Apple has launched the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, featuring a versatile variable-aperture camera system, extended battery life, and the new A20 Pro chip. These flagship devices also introduce refined manual camera controls and a redesigned Dynamic Island. Both models operate on iOS 27 and incorporate Siri AI through Apple Intelligence. Preorders commence on September 12, with official release starting September 18 across more than 65 countries and regions.
The 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera now offers users the option to select from four different aperture settings. Six laser-cut blades govern the aperture’s opening, allowing for control over depth of field and light intake. Additionally, users can adjust shutter speed and white balance directly within the Camera app. New professional controls include a histogram for exposure monitoring. Video capabilities feature Cinematic effects at up to 60 frames per second after capture, while time-lapse recordings now support 4K resolution with Dolby Vision HDR.
The camera system also debuts Reference Image, a feature that records signed sensor data when users activate Reference mode. The Private Cloud Compute feature converts this data into a reference image that can be compared within the Photos app. This functionality is designed to assist users in determining if an image has changed after being taken. Support for SynthID will be introduced via a software update later this year. Greg Joswiak, senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, stated that the new lineup advances in camera technology, performance, battery life, and intelligence.
Enhanced manual controls with the new camera system
The A20 Pro processor, built on a 2-nanometer process, features a six-core CPU paired with a seven-core GPU. It also incorporates a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, totaling 32 cores. Apple claims that the GPU is up to 40% faster than the A19 Pro. The device’s cooling system has been upgraded with a redesigned vapor chamber that increases surface area, working in tandem with improved chip packaging to sustain higher performance levels during demanding tasks.
Battery life sees significant improvement across both Pro versions, with the most notable increases in eSIM-only models. The iPhone 18 Pro can deliver up to 36 hours of video playback, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max extends this to 45 hours. Wired fast charging can bring the battery to 50% in approximately 15 minutes. The eSIM-only variants will be available in markets including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, as well as several other countries outside the Middle East.
Siri AI enhances Apple Intelligence features on iOS 27
Both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max come preloaded with iOS 27, enabling access to the latest Apple Intelligence capabilities. Siri AI enters beta on September 14 for supported devices set to English. Support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish is scheduled for October. Siri AI can leverage messages, emails, and photos to gather information, respond to content on the screen, and assist with tasks through the Camera app.
Pricing begins at $1,199 for the iPhone 18 Pro in the United States, while the Pro Max starts at $1,299. Customers can select from storage options of 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB. Available finishes include black, silver, glacier, and burgundy. Orders open at 5 a.m. Pacific Time on September 12, with initial sales starting September 18 in select markets. An additional 20 countries and regions will receive the iPhone 18 Pro lineup starting September 25.