CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Apple has unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, featuring a camera with variable aperture, enhanced battery life, and the new A20 Pro chip. These flagship devices also introduce manual camera controls and a redesigned Dynamic Island. Both models operate on iOS 27 and support Siri AI via Apple Intelligence. Preorders begin on September 12, with sales starting September 18 in over 65 countries and regions.
The 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera now allows users to select from four aperture settings. Six laser-cut blades manage the opening and adjust depth of field and light intake. Users are also able to modify shutter speed and white balance within the Camera app. New Pro controls feature a histogram for exposure monitoring. Video capabilities include Cinematic effects at up to 60 frames per second after capture, and time-lapse recording now supports 4K resolution with Dolby Vision HDR.
Additionally, the camera system introduces Reference Image, which records signed sensor data when users enable Reference mode. Private Cloud Compute converts this data into a reference image for comparison within the Photos app. This feature aims to assist users in determining if an image has changed post-capture. Support for SynthID will be available through a software update later this year. Greg Joswiak, senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, noted that the lineup advances camera capabilities, performance, battery life, and intelligence.
Enhanced manual controls added with the new camera system
The A20 Pro processor is built on a 2-nanometer manufacturing process, incorporating a six-core CPU alongside a seven-core GPU. It also features a Dual 16-core Neural Engine with a total of 32 cores. The company claims the GPU delivers up to 40% faster performance than the A19 Pro. A redesigned vapor chamber increases the cooling surface area, working in conjunction with updated chip packaging to support higher sustained performance during intensive tasks.
Battery life improves across both Pro models, with the most notable increases on eSIM-only variants. The iPhone 18 Pro offers up to 36 hours of video playback, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max extends this to 45 hours. Wired charging can bring the Pro model to 50% in approximately 15 minutes. eSIM-only versions will be launched in markets including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, along with several other countries outside the Middle East.
Siri AI expands with Apple Intelligence on iOS 27
Both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max come preloaded with iOS 27, granting access to the latest Apple Intelligence features. Siri AI enters beta on September 14 for supported devices configured to English. Support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish will follow in October. Siri AI can draw insights from messages, emails, and photos when users ask for information. It can also respond to on-screen content and assist with tasks via the Camera app.
The iPhone 18 Pro is priced from $1,199 in the United States, with the Pro Max starting at $1,299. Users can select storage options of 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB. Available finishes include black, silver, glacier, and burgundy. Orders will be accepted from 5 a.m. Pacific Time on September 12, with sales beginning September 18 in the initial markets. An additional 20 countries and regions will receive the iPhone 18 Pro lineup from September 25.