CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Apple has launched the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, equipped with a camera featuring variable aperture, enhanced battery life, and the new A20 Pro chip. These flagship models introduce manual camera controls and a redesigned Dynamic Island interface. Both devices operate on iOS 27 and incorporate Siri AI via Apple Intelligence. Preorders begin on September 12, with availability starting September 18 in over 65 countries and regions.
The 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera now allows users to select from four different aperture settings. Six laser-cut blades regulate the opening, influencing depth of field and light intake. Shutter speed and white balance adjustments can also be made within the Camera app. The new Pro controls include a histogram for exposure analysis. Video capabilities include Cinematic effects at up to 60 frames per second after capture, while time-lapse recording now supports 4K resolution with Dolby Vision HDR.
Additionally, the camera system features Reference Image, which captures signed sensor data when users activate Reference mode. Private Cloud Compute then converts this data into a reference image for comparison in the Photos app. This feature aims to assist users in determining whether an image has been altered post-capture. Support for SynthID will be added through a software update later this year. Greg Josziak, senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, noted that the lineup enhances camera capabilities, performance, battery life, and intelligence.
Enhanced manual control comes with the new camera system
The A20 Pro chip utilizes a 2-nanometer manufacturing process and features a six-core CPU alongside a seven-core GPU. It also houses a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, totaling 32 cores. Apple reports that the GPU is up to 40% faster than the A19 Pro. A redesigned vapor chamber increases the surface area for cooling, working in tandem with upgraded chip packaging to sustain higher performance levels during intensive tasks.
Battery life has improved across both Pro models, particularly on eSIM-only versions. 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 charging can replenish the battery to 50% in approximately 15 minutes. The eSIM-only variants will launch in markets including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, as well as several countries outside the Middle East.
Siri AI expands with Apple Intelligence in iOS 27
Preloaded with iOS 27, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max offer access to the latest features of Apple Intelligence. Siri AI begins its beta phase on September 14 for supported devices set to English. Support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish is expected to arrive in October. Siri AI can retrieve information from messages, emails, and photos, respond to on-screen content, and assist with tasks through the Camera app.
Pricing starts at $1,199 for the iPhone 18 Pro in the United States, while the Pro Max begins at $1,299. Customers can opt for 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 sales beginning on September 18 in the initial set of markets. An additional 20 countries and regions will receive the iPhone 18 Pro lineup from September 25.