CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Apple has launched the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max with a new variable-aperture camera and A20 Pro processor. The models also bring longer battery life, new professional camera controls and a smaller Dynamic Island. Both phones run iOS 27 and support Apple Intelligence features, including Siri AI. The lineup comes in black, silver, glacier and burgundy. Preorders open September 12, followed by initial retail availability on September 18.
The 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera introduces aperture control to the iPhone for the first time. Six laser-cut blades move between four aperture settings to manage light and depth of field. Users can select those settings manually within the Camera app. New Pro controls also provide direct access to shutter speed and white balance. A histogram allows photographers to monitor exposure while framing a shot. Apple has also expanded Photographic Styles with texture and grain controls for additional adjustments before sharing an image.
Video recording receives several updates across the iPhone 18 Pro range. Users can apply Cinematic effects after capturing footage at up to 60 frames per second. Time-lapse mode now records in 4K with Dolby Vision HDR. Updated Audio Mix algorithms improve voice quality and can isolate music. The new Apple Reference Image feature records signed sensor data in an optional Reference mode. Private Cloud Compute then develops a reference image that users can compare with the primary photograph inside the Photos app.
Camera upgrades focus on control and image verification
The A20 Pro chip uses a 2-nanometer process and combines a six-core CPU with a seven-core GPU. Apple says the GPU delivers up to 40% faster performance than the A19 Pro. A Dual 16-core Neural Engine provides 32 cores for AI processing and computational photography. The company also redesigned its thermal system around a next-generation vapor chamber. Its surface area is three times larger than the previous generation. The design supports up to 40% higher sustained performance, according to company testing.
Battery life rises across both Pro models, with eSIM-only versions gaining additional capacity from the space left by the SIM tray. The iPhone 18 Pro reaches up to 36 hours of video playback under Apple’s test conditions. The iPhone 18 Pro Max reaches up to 45 hours. Compatible wired charging can bring the Pro model to 50% in about 15 minutes. eSIM-only versions will launch in Bahrain, Canada, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other supported markets.
Siri AI and iOS 27 extend the software changes
iOS 27 brings Siri AI to the new phones as part of the latest Apple Intelligence release. Siri AI begins rolling out in beta on September 14 for supported devices configured in English. French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish support is scheduled for October. The assistant can use personal context from messages, emails and photos when users request information. It can also respond to content on the screen and assist through the Camera app. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s worldwide marketing chief, highlighted camera, performance, battery and intelligence improvements.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 in the United States, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299. Both phones offer 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB storage options. Customers in more than 65 countries and regions can preorder the devices from 5 a.m. Pacific Time on September 12. Sales begin September 18 in the first group of markets. Another 20 countries and regions receive the new models on September 25, completing the next stage of the announced rollout.