News in Short

• Apple has launched the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
• Both models get a new 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture.
• The phones are powered by the new 2nm A20 Pro chip.
• Apple has added improved thermal management with a next-generation vapor chamber.
• The iPhone 18 Pro Max offers up to 45 hours of video playback.
• Both models feature iOS 27, Apple Intelligence and Siri AI.
• The Dynamic Island has been redesigned and can now display up to three Live Activities.
• Storage options range from 256GB to 2TB.
• Pre-orders begin September 12, with sales starting September 18.
• India is among the markets getting the new Pro models from September 18.

Apple has officially expanded its Pro lineup with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. This year, the company is putting a strong focus on three areas: cameras, performance and battery life.

The biggest camera change is the introduction of variable aperture on the 48MP Fusion Main camera. Apple says the new system gives users more control over depth of field and low-light photography. The company has also added more manual controls for users who want to go beyond point-and-shoot photography.

Both phones come in black, silver, glacier and a new burgundy finish. Pre-orders start September 12, while availability begins September 18.

iPhone 18 Pro camera gets variable aperture

The 48MP Fusion Main camera is arguably the biggest upgrade in the iPhone 18 Pro series.

For the first time, Apple has added variable aperture to the iPhone’s main camera. The system uses six laser-cut blades that can adjust the aperture depending on the scene.

The aperture can automatically adapt to lighting and depth-of-field requirements. Users can also manually select from four aperture settings within the Camera app.

Apple says the new sensor and computational photography pipeline improve low-light results, detail in group photos and overall image quality.

Apple has also expanded its camera controls. Users can manually adjust aperture, shutter speed and white balance, while a histogram can be used to check exposure.

Video recording gets several additions too. Cinematic effects can now be applied after recording to videos captured at up to 60fps. Time-lapse recording supports 4K and Dolby Vision HDR, while Audio Mix gets new algorithms for better voice isolation.

Apple introduces Reference Image for photo authenticity

Another interesting addition is Apple Reference Image.

The feature creates an unalterable reference version of a photograph using signed sensor data. This reference can then be viewed alongside the regular image in the Photos app.

The idea is to help users determine whether a photograph has been edited after capture. Apple says the feature could be particularly useful for photographers, photojournalists and others who need greater confidence in image authenticity.

A20 Pro brings 2nm performance

Under the hood, the iPhone 18 Pro series gets Apple’s new A20 Pro chip.

Built using a 2nm process, the chip features a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine. Apple claims the GPU can be up to 40 percent faster than A19 Pro, while memory bandwidth increases by 50 percent.

The Neural Engine also gets a major boost, with Apple saying the new architecture provides twice the AI processing power of A19 Pro.

The phones also use Apple’s N1 wireless chip, bringing Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread support. The new C2 modem is designed to improve cellular performance while consuming less energy.

New cooling system targets sustained performance

Apple has also redesigned the thermal architecture.

The A20 Pro works with a new vapor chamber that has three times the surface area of the previous generation on the iPhone 17 Pro. Apple says this enables up to a 40 percent gain in sustained performance compared with the previous generation.

That could be particularly relevant for users who spend long periods gaming, editing video or running demanding AI workloads.

iPhone 18 Pro Max gets major battery boost

Battery life is another major focus this year.

The iPhone 18 Pro offers up to 36 hours of video playback, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max goes up to 45 hours on eSIM-only models.

Apple also says the iPhone 18 Pro can reach 50 percent charge in around 15 minutes. On the Pro Max, five minutes of wired charging can provide around seven hours of video playback.

Siri AI arrives with iOS 27

The iPhone 18 Pro lineup ships with iOS 27, Apple Intelligence and the new Siri AI.

Siri AI is rolling out as a beta and is designed to understand personal context across apps. It can work with information in messages, emails and photos, while onscreen awareness allows Siri to act on what is currently displayed.

Apple is also adding a Siri mode to the Camera app. This can provide information about objects or content in front of the camera and help users take actions based on what they see.

Apple says AI processing uses a combination of on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute for privacy.

Dynamic Island gets smaller and more useful

The Dynamic Island has also received a design update.

Apple says the redesigned version can display up to three Live Activities simultaneously, while continuing to support Face ID and other authentication functions.

iPhone 18 Pro price and availability

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be available with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB storage options.

In the US, the iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299.

Pre-orders begin September 12, and sales start September 18. India is among the countries included in the first wave of availability.

Apple has not provided the India-specific pricing in the supplied announcement, so the final Indian prices should be confirmed separately.

Verdict

The iPhone 18 Pro series looks like a substantial Pro-generation upgrade, particularly for photography and performance. The move to variable aperture gives Apple’s camera system a more traditional camera-like control, while the A20 Pro and new vapor chamber target sustained performance.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max stands out for its claimed battery gains, while Siri AI could become one of the more important software additions as Apple expands its personal AI capabilities.