CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Apple has unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max with major camera, performance and battery upgrades. The new models feature a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera with variable aperture, a first for the iPhone. Both phones run on the new A20 Pro chip and include a redesigned thermal system. Preorders begin September 12, with retail availability scheduled for September 18 in more than 65 countries and regions.
The iPhone 18 Pro camera system adds four selectable aperture settings to control lighting and depth of field. Its main camera supports apertures of f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4.0. The system also includes 48-megapixel Ultra Wide and Telephoto cameras. New Pro controls allow adjustments to aperture, shutter speed and white balance inside the Camera app. Users can also view a histogram while composing photos or videos.
Apple has introduced Reference Image, an opt-in feature designed to help verify the authenticity of photographs. The system captures signed sensor data when users take a photo in Reference mode. That data creates a reference image that users can compare with an edited version in the Photos app. The company is also adding support for image metadata and the SynthID standard. SynthID support will arrive through a software update later in 2026.
Camera controls expand with variable aperture
The A20 Pro chip uses a 2-nanometer manufacturing process and includes a six-core CPU and seven-core GPU. It also has a Dual 16-core Neural Engine with 32 total cores for artificial intelligence processing. Apple says the GPU delivers up to 40% faster performance than the A19 Pro. A redesigned vapor chamber increases surface area and improves sustained performance. The models also include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread through Apple’s N1 wireless networking chip.
Battery life also increases across the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. Apple rates eSIM-only versions of the Pro for up to 36 hours of video playback. The Pro Max reaches up to 45 hours under the same measure. The iPhone 18 Pro can reach 50% charge in about 15 minutes with compatible wired equipment. Removing the physical SIM tray creates additional battery space in eSIM-only models, which will be sold across several Middle Eastern markets.
Siri AI arrives with iOS 27
The new phones ship with iOS 27 and support Siri AI through Apple Intelligence. Siri AI enters beta on September 14 for supported devices configured in English. French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish support is scheduled for October. The software can use personal context from messages, email and photos while processing requests. It can also respond to content shown on the screen. Apple Intelligence uses on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute for supported cloud-based tasks.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 in the United States, while the Pro Max starts at $1,299. Both models come with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB of storage. Available colors are burgundy, glacier, silver and black. In the UAE, the iPhone 18 Pro starts at AED 5,099. Preorders open September 12, followed by sales on September 18. Another 20 countries and regions are scheduled to receive the devices on September 25.