Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. They will be available in four colors: black, silver, glacier, and burgundy. Pre-orders will begin at 9 PM on Saturday, September 12th, and sales will start on Friday, September 18th. The iPhone 18 Pro will start at ¥219,800 (tax included), and the iPhone 18 Pro Max will start at ¥239,800 (tax included).
The new 48MP Fusion main camera supports variable aperture, allowing you to adjust depth of field and the amount of light captured according to your shooting intentions. In addition, new Pro-level controls allow you to manually set aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and more within the camera app.
Both models feature a smaller Dynamic Island chip, along with the A20 Pro chip and next-generation vapor chamber. According to Apple, battery life has improved by up to 40% compared to the previous generation. Thanks to the increased efficiency of Apple Silicon and the larger battery capacity, the iPhone 18 Pro Max can support up to 45 hours of video playback on the eSIM-only model.
Compatible with iOS 27 and Apple Intelligence, Siri AI will be available in beta starting September 15th. Initially, it will support English, with Japanese support planned for October.
48MP Fusion main camera with variable aperture support
The new 48MP Fusion main camera is the first iPhone to support a variable aperture. Users can choose from four aperture values: ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, and ƒ/4.0, allowing them to adjust depth of field and the amount of light captured depending on the shooting scene.
How the aperture works
It employs six laser-cut aperture blades, allowing you to adjust the depth of field and the amount of light captured by switching between different aperture values. Combined with the new sensor, it enables image creation tailored to various shooting conditions, such as low-light environments and group photography.
The variable aperture can be manually adjusted from the camera app. An API is also provided for developers, allowing for more precise control of the aperture from compatible apps.
Computational Image Pipeline
A new computational image pipeline has been adopted, enabling more detailed photography with the main camera. New texture and grain controls have been added to the Photograph Style, allowing for finer adjustments to color, skin texture, and other aspects.
Other Cameras on the iPhone 18 Pro
On the back, in addition to the 48MP Fusion main camera, there are also a 48MP Fusion ultra-wide-angle camera and a 48MP Fusion telephoto camera. The telephoto camera supports 4x zoom equivalent to 100mm and also offers 8x optical quality zoom equivalent to 200mm.
For video recording, cinematic effects can be applied to footage shot at up to 60fps after shooting. Time-lapse photography supports 4K Dolby Vision HDR, and the audio mix employs a new algorithm that supports music separation.
The new professional-level controls provide easier access to frequently used shooting settings, allowing you to manually adjust aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and more. Exposure confirmation using a histogram is also supported.
Compatible with Apple reference images
The iPhone 18 Pro models support “Apple Reference Images,” which allow users to verify that their photos haven’t been edited since they were taken. A new sensor in the main camera can sign each pixel at the time of shooting. When shooting in Reference Mode, the signed sensor data is captured, and according to Apple, a tamper-proof reference image is generated using private cloud computing.
Reference images can be displayed alongside the main image in the Photos app, much like a digital negative, allowing users to visually compare the two images and check for any edits. An API is also provided for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS 27, enabling third-party apps to display reference images.
Image metadata, as well as future support for SynthID, will help identify AI-generated or edited images. Apple says that by combining these features, it will provide multiple ways to verify the authenticity of images.
Miniaturizing Dynamic Island
New display technology allows for a smaller Dynamic Island, enabling more information to be displayed around the device. Up to three live activities can be viewed simultaneously, and it continues to support Face ID unlocking, purchase authorization, and app sign-in.
Equipped with A20 Pro
The A20 Pro is manufactured using a 2nm process and features a 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU, and dual 16-core Neural Engines. Compared to the A19 Pro, memory bandwidth is 50% higher, and the CPU integrates Neural Accelerators.
The 7-core GPU is up to 40% faster than the A19 Pro. Furthermore, it features dual 16-core Neural Engines for processing on-device AI models and computational photography, resulting in a total of 32 cores that deliver twice the AI processing power compared to the A19 Pro.
The A20 Pro offers enhanced support for demanding workloads such as on-device AI processing and gaming.
Both models feature Apple’s N1 wireless network chip and support Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. They also utilize the next-generation C2 mobile communication modem system. According to Apple, this results in 15% less energy consumption and faster upload speeds compared to the C1X.
New thermal management system
The A20 Pro employs a new packaging design inspired by Apple’s M-series silicon, where the silicon die and memory are placed side-by-side. By separating the memory from the chip’s heat dissipation path, the A20 Pro can be directly bonded to a next-generation vapor chamber.
The vapor chamber uses new materials and has three times the surface area compared to the iPhone 17 Pro. According to Apple, this has resulted in up to a 40% improvement in battery life compared to the previous generation.
Extend battery life
The iPhone 18 Pro series extends battery life through the power efficiency of Apple Silicon and a new battery design.
With eSIM-only models, the iPhone 18 Pro supports up to 36 hours of video playback, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max supports up to 45 hours. Additionally, the iPhone 18 Pro can be charged up to 50% in about 15 minutes via wired charging and about 30 minutes via wireless charging.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max can play videos for approximately 7 hours with just 5 minutes of wired charging. Based on Apple’s calculations using real-world usage data, the new battery model can be used for up to 30 hours on a full charge.
iOS 27 with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will run iOS 27 and support Apple Intelligence. Siri AI will be available in beta starting September 15th, initially supporting English. Japanese language support is planned for October.
Siri AI leverages personal context to find information users need from messages, emails, photos, and more, and uses on-screen recognition to perform actions related to on-screen content. It can also answer questions on a wide range of topics.
The camera app’s Siri mode allows you to obtain information about objects in the camera’s view and perform related actions. It also supports text creation using Siri.
The photo app allows you to adjust the composition after taking a picture using spatial reframing, expansion, and upgraded cleanup.
Image Playground supports the generation of realistic, photorealistic images. Safari’s “Notify me” feature checks for changes on web pages, such as product restocks and price reductions, and notifies the user.
Apple Intelligence works by combining on-device processing with private cloud computing.
iOS 27 will also include software design improvements and new Liquid Glass customization options.
Parental controls have also been enhanced, allowing for more flexible management of content children can access, who they can contact, and when they can use their devices. Additionally, “iPhone Handoff” has been introduced, enabling users with compatible carriers to switch between two iPhones using the same phone number.
eSIM connection
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max sold in Japan will only support eSIM. eSIM is compatible with over 500 carriers worldwide, including au (KDDI), NTT Docomo, and SoftBank.
iOS 27 also supports “Handoff for iPhone,” allowing users with compatible carriers to switch between two iPhone models using the same phone number.
New accessories for iPhone 18 Pro
New silicone cases, tech woven cases, crossbody straps, and fine woven wallets will be available for the iPhone 18 Pro models.
The clear case features a new design and is compatible with both crossbody and wrist straps. The wrist strap can be attached to iPhones, as well as AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3.
The wrist strap is woven from 100% recycled polyester yarn and features a flexible magnet inside. It comes in six colors: black, taupe, olive, crisp blue, magenta, and burgundy.
iPhone 18 Pro and the environment
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are designed with Apple’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 in mind.
Both models utilize recycled materials for 40% of their construction, including 100% recycled cobalt in the battery and 85% recycled aluminum in the casing. 50% of the manufacturing process, across the entire supply chain, relies on renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. The paper packaging is made entirely from fiber materials.
