The new iPhone 18 Pro brings major upgrades to the camera, performance and battery life while keeping the familiar 6.3-inch design.
Perhaps its biggest change is a 48MP Fusion Main camera with a variable aperture, giving users more control over depth of field and low-light shots. Apple also added new Pro controls for adjusting settings such as aperture, shutter speed and white balance.
Inside, the A20 Pro chip uses 2-nanometer technology and is paired with a new vapor-chamber cooling system that allows the phone to maintain higher performance for longer. The Dynamic Island is also smaller and can display up to three Live Activities at once.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max offers the same basic features in a larger 6.9-inch package, but its biggest advantage is battery life. Apple calls the Pro Max’s improvement the largest battery-life increase ever for an iPhone, with up to 45 hours of video playback on eSIM-only models.
Both models start with 256GB of storage, and for the first time, 2TB storage is available on both Pro models.
Apple’s latest Final Cut Camera 2.4 update adds a cutting-edge feature: It gives video creators even greater control over the iPhone 18 Pro’s new variable-aperture camera.
The new version also brings a ground-up redesign of the app. And with iOS 27, it gets pro monitoring tools like RGB Parade and clean SDI output.
Some iPhone 18 Pro owners are reporting fading and discoloration of their new devices, particularly around the camera plateau on the back.
Owners of burgundy and black iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max units are sharing photos on Reddit and other social media that show lighter rings around the rear camera lenses.
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: That didn’t take long! The iPhone 18 Pro faces more than one problem right out of the gate. First there’s a controversial storage choice that seems to hamper performance of the highest-end models (at least in extreme testing). And then there’s a weird Face ID problem.
So far, no names have stuck for these “-gates” — and maybe there’s not that much to them. The storage problem might be mostly theoretical, and a software fix is on the way for the Face ID glitch. Still, there’s plenty to talk about!
Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:
Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. Or watch the video version, embedded below. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!)
For a four-year-old device, the iPhone 14 Pro has aged well. But the iPhone 18 Pro offers some compelling everyday improvements that make it a worthwhile upgrade.
If you use an iPhone 14 Pro, it may just be time to upgrade. Here’s our iPhone 18 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro comparison to help you decide.
Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max have been on sale for a week, but customers ordering one today can still face a wait that stretches well into October.
The new models debuted last Friday, and even before launch faced criticism for a price hike. There were also questions about whether the new iPhone Duo foldable would lure customers away.
But there’s undeniably enough demand that U.S. customers shopping for one of the two iPhone 18 Pro models online will wait at least two weeks for a shipment to arrive.
Apple is preparing a software update to fix a bug that causes the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max to restart unexpectedly. This typically happens after a failed Face ID scan, causing the phone to freeze and reboot.
The company plans to roll out the bug-fixing iOS 27 build early next week.
Apple just walked back a promise it apparently made accidentally: The new Texture and Grain controls in Photographic Styles aren’t coming to your old iPhone, despite what you might have read last week. Apple locked them to the iPhone 18 Pro lineup and the iPhone Duo, full stop.
The mess is of Apple’s own making. The iPhone 18 Pro announcement said the feature would come to more iPhones down the line. But Apple has now quietly rewritten that language, and it isn’t saying why.
With the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max now on store shelves, iFixit put Apple’s latest flagship phones under the knife. The teardown gives us an up-close look at the devices’ new variable-aperture camera, larger cooling systems and a possible repair challenge.
It also reveals how Apple shrunk the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro without affecting Face ID’s functionality.
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max charge faster than any previous iPhone. This means a quick top-up will enable the phone to last a few additional hours.
However, to get the best speeds, you need to pick the right USB-C charger and cable for your iPhone. Here’s what you need for fast wired and wireless charging for the iPhone 18 Pro, and what to check before buying new accessories.
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: The iPhone 18 Pro is here, and the iPhone Duo is on the way, but Apple’s far from finished releasing new hardware this year.
There’s plenty of new stuff coming down the pike, and we’re especially excited about a pair of long-rumored additions to the Apple lineup.
Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:
Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video version, embedded below.
The wait for Apple’s latest gear is over. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max hit retail stores Friday alongside the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5.
Crowds lined up outside Apple Stores around the world, even as a highly unusual launch cycle took place for the latest iPhones.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max appear to bring two upgrades you will appreciate in everyday use: faster charging and better cooling.
Apple hyped these improvements during its September 9 launch event. And early testing suggests the upgrades are real.
Three years is a long time in the tech world. And forever in the world of smartphones. If you got an iPhone 15 Pro in 2023, the iPhone 18 Pro will look mighty tempting.
Are the improved cameras, longer battery life and faster charging speeds enough to justify upgrading from the iPhone 15 Pro, especially with the higher starting price? Here’s how the two compare.
Every September, Apple pulls off a logistical magic trick that most people are completely unaware of. You preorder an iPhone, open the sealed box on launch day, and hit the ground running. But have you ever wondered how that’s possible? Apple only finalized the release version of iOS 27 last week after already assembling millions of new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max units.
Here is how Apple does its final-week iOS update at an astronomical scale.
Upgrading to the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max? You’ll need a new case to protect your expensive purchase. Since you’ll see and hold a case every day, it’s worth spending a few extra minutes choosing the right one.
To make the choice easier, check out our roundup of the best iPhone 18 Pro cases from popular case makers, along with some of their standout options.
Of two minds about upgrading to the iPhone 18 Pro from your current iPhone? While the newest iPhone packs some compelling upgrades, it might not be worth the higher price tag. Plus, wanting an upgrade and needing one are two different things.
With the 20th-anniversary iPhone rumored for next year, you might want to consider holding off on buying the iPhone 18 Pro this year. Here are some reasons you should not upgrade.
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: Apple’s Surprise and Shine event is in the books! The iPhone Duo is real, and it definitely folds. New Apple CEO John Ternus didn’t, though. He acquitted himself admirably as he briefly uncapped Apple’s magic product pipeline.
We discuss how things went down and our reactions to iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5.
Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:
Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video version, embedded below.
Apple began accepting preorders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max this morning. Both phones arrive in stores on Friday, September 18, when the first preorder deliveries also reach customers.
The Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and new AirPods 5 were already available for preorder, with all three launching the same day. However, if you want the folding iPhone Duo, you’ll need to wait until October to place your preorder.
So you’re eyeing the iPhone Duo. Before you preorder, know this: The iPhone Duo versus iPhone 18 Pro fight is closer than you might think, but the folding phone loses by more than a few rounds.
Apple’s latest flagships launched together during Wednesday’s Surprise and Shine event. But to achieve its cutting-edge design, the Duo trades some camera and other features that the two iPhone 18 Pro models keep. Here’s what you’d give up if you buy the first folding iPhone.
The iPhone 18 Pro gets a flashy new main camera, longer battery life, and some other nice-to-have upgrades. But if you already got an iPhone 17 Pro last year, are these improvements enough to justify an upgrade?
While there’s plenty to like about the iPhone 18 Pro, the higher starting price makes the decision a little harder. Here is how Apple’s two Pro iPhones compare.
Apple extended free satellite connectivity on older iPhones for another year. That gives existing users more time with the satellite features without having to pay to keep using them.
The company announced a similar extension during last year’s iPhone 17 launch and the year before that, too.
The iPhone 18 Pro’s variable aperture camera and longer battery life grabbed plenty of attention at Apple’s launch event. But the new iPhones pack plenty of other notable upgrades.
From adding Cinematic effects after recording to checking how a photo has been edited, there’s more to the new Pro lineup than its headline features.
Ready to buy the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max? You may want to know how much Apple’s new iPhones cost and when you can get your hands on them.
Here’s a breakdown of prices, preorder dates and launch-day availability so you can plan your purchase.
Apple kicked off its Surprise and Shine event Wednesday with a cinematic passing of the torch as former CEO Tim Cook introduced his successor, John Ternus.
Ternus then praised the company’s crown jewel — the iPhone, which he called an “intelligent personal hub” superpowered by artificial intelligence — before unveiling a slew of new products, including the first folding iPhone, known as the iPhone Duo.
Other new and upgraded products included the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5. Plus, various Apple execs also showcased new software features coming soon in iOS 27 and the company’s other software platforms.
“iPhone sits at the center of an amazing ecosystem of intelligent features and experiences that work seamlessly across the products you use every day,” Ternus said, before name-checking the new AI-powered Siri and advanced features in the new Apple Watch and AirPods.
“Simply put, iPhone brings powerful AI capabilities together with your personal context on the device you have with you all the time,” Ternus continued. “So today, we’re going to take these experiences even further with the next generation of iPhone.”
Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro lineup apparently won’t get the huge price hike that many people predicted/feared. The new models will cost slightly more than their predecessors, according to a last-minute leak, but don’t expect a massive jump.
The same leak also covers previously rumored design details, such as big camera upgrades. The Pro Max will reportedly pack a variable-aperture lens for depth-of-field control and better low-light images. And for better heat dissipation, Apple will seemingly add vapor chamber cooling to the new iPhones.