The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max were revealed during Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event on September 9. Although they lack the rumored folding display of the anticipated iPhone Ultra, the new models are loaded with Apple’s latest technology, including new A20 Bionic processors, camera upgrades, and fresh color options.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 in the United States, while the Pro Max is priced at $1,299, both offering 256 GB of storage. Pre‑orders open this Saturday and the devices go on sale on September 18.
Apple describes the camera improvements as “the biggest camera upgrades in years.” The Pro models feature a variable aperture on the primary 48‑megapixel sensor, employing six ultra‑thin aperture blades that physically open and close. This mechanism widens to capture more light in low‑light conditions and narrows for greater depth of field when lighting is ample.
On the software side, the interface receives new Pro controls that simplify manual adjustments such as white balance and aperture. Additional options for customizing Apple’s Photographic Styles are also included. The phones will support Google’s SynthID standard for verifying non‑AI‑generated images, alongside Apple’s own authentication framework.
The A20 Pro chip has been rebuilt from the ground up, delivering a 20 % performance boost over its predecessor and, according to Apple, the fastest CPU in any smartphone. It is also optimized for AI workloads, and a large thermal cooling system helps prevent overheating during intensive gaming sessions.
Battery life sees an improvement, with Apple promising up to 45 hours of video playback on the Pro Max. Given the strong endurance of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, a direct comparison will be intriguing.
Apple highlighted its Apple Intelligence suite, showing how Siri can now draw information from messages, email, and other apps to answer queries. Visual Intelligence lets users ask questions about what the camera sees. A new Siri app archives past conversations for easy follow‑up, and AI‑powered photo tools can expand the canvas or remove objects with higher accuracy than before.
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max ranked among our favorite phones of the past year, praised for both performance and camera prowess. In a test pitting the iPhone 17 Pro’s video capabilities against a professional cinema rig, it performed admirably as part of a pro filmmaking setup.
Nevertheless, Apple faces stiff competition in photography. Xiaomi and Leica’s Leitzphone earned a Gfaloe Editors’ Choice award for its exceptional imaging. How Apple’s latest handsets compare to Android rivals remains to be seen.
This story is developing and will be updated as Apple releases more details during its live event.