Apple Unveils iPhone 18 Pro: Camera, Battery, and Siri AI

Apple has introduced its new flagship smartphones, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The devices feature a 48-megapixel main camera with a variable aperture, a new A20 Pro chip, improved cooling system, increased battery life, and support for Siri AI. Pre-orders begin on September 12, with sales starting on September 18.

Camera with Interchangeable Aperture

The main camera of the new iPhones boasts a 48-megapixel Fusion sensor and, for the first time in Apple smartphones, an interchangeable aperture.

The design consists of six laser-cut blades, allowing manual adjustment of the aperture in four positions. This enables better control over the amount of light hitting the sensor and affects the depth of field.

Apple has also updated the camera sensor. According to the company, this should improve photo quality in low light and help retain more details in both the foreground and background.

Users can control the aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and histogram through the new Pro Controls. Apple has opened a suitable API for developers.

The updated Photographic Styles allow for adding more texture and grain to photos, changing the character of the image during processing.

New Video Capabilities

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max have received additional tools for shooting and editing videos.

Cinematic effects can now be applied after recording. The feature supports videos at up to 60 frames per second.

Additionally, the smartphones can record time-lapse in 4K Dolby Vision HDR. Apple has also updated the Audio Mix feature, allowing for sound manipulation during video creation.

Another innovation is the Apple Reference Image technology. It uses signed sensor data, while Private Cloud Compute creates a permanent reference image file.

This file can be viewed in the "Photos" app as a digital negative. Apple will also provide corresponding APIs for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. The company plans to add support for metadata and SynthID to this system.

Updated Dynamic Island

Apple has revamped Dynamic Island, making it more compact yet more useful.

The updated system can display up to three Live Activities simultaneously, allowing users to track multiple events without opening apps.

A20 Pro: New Processor

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max run on the new A20 Pro chip, manufactured using a 2nm process.

Memory bandwidth has increased by 50% compared to the A19 Pro. The processor features six cores and built-in Neural Accelerators.

Graphics are handled by a seven-core GPU, which, according to Apple, delivers up to 40% higher performance compared to the A19 Pro. A separate 16-core Neural Engine operates independently.

In total, the platform has 32 cores, and its AI task execution capabilities are twice those of the A19 Pro.

New Wireless Technologies

The smartphones are equipped with a new wireless chip N1 supporting Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.

Apple also introduced the C2 modem. It uses artificial intelligence to optimize mobile connectivity, providing higher data transfer speeds compared to C1X and consuming 15% less power.

In the U.S., the modem also supports mmWave.

Improved Cooling

To support high performance, Apple has updated the cooling system of the smartphones.

The new vapor chamber has an area approximately three times larger than that of the iPhone 17 Pro. According to the company, this allows for a stable performance increase of up to 40%.

This is especially important during prolonged activities—such as gaming, video work, or performing complex tasks based on artificial intelligence.

Autonomy and Fast Charging

Apple has increased the battery life of its new models.

The iPhone 18 Pro offers up to 36 hours of video playback, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max provides up to 45 hours.

The iPhone 18 Pro can be charged to 50% in about 15 minutes via cable or in 30 minutes wirelessly.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max boasts an even higher charging speed: five minutes of cable connection can provide up to seven hours of video playback.

According to the new assessment method, a fully charged iPhone 18 Pro Max can deliver up to 30 hours of operation.

iOS 27 and Artificial Intelligence

The new smartphones run on iOS 27 and receive enhanced Apple Intelligence features.

Apple is testing an updated version of Siri with artificial intelligence. It is designed to take personal context into account, understand screen content, and execute more complex commands.

In particular, Siri receives a new camera mode and can assist with text writing.

Among other tools are Spatial Reframing, Extend, and Clean Up. Image Playground has gained the ability to create more photorealistic images.

Safari has introduced a Notify Me feature to help track important updates.

Apple notes that data processing occurs directly on the device, while more complex tasks utilize Private Cloud Compute.

More Options for Parents

iOS 27 has also received new parental control tools.

Users can further personalize the Liquid Glass interface, and the iPhone Handoff feature simplifies task transfer between Apple devices.

Where the iPhone 18 Pro Will Be eSIM-Only

In several countries, the new smartphones will be sold without a physical SIM card slot.

The list includes Bahrain, Canada, Guam, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the USA, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The use of eSIM-only has also allowed Apple to increase battery capacity. According to the company, this provides up to two additional hours of video playback.

New Accessories

For the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple has introduced new accessories, including silicone cases, TechWoven straps, Crossbody straps, FineWoven wallets, a clear case, and a Wrist Strap.

The accessories are made from 100% recycled polyester.

The color palette includes black, taupe, olive, bright blue, purple, and burgundy shades.

Eco-Friendliness

Apple stated that 40% of the materials used in the new smartphones are recycled.

The batteries contain 100% recycled cobalt, and the body is made from aluminum, 85% of which has recycled origins.

Half of the energy used in the supply chain comes from renewable sources. The packaging uses fiber-based paper.

Colors and Sales Start

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be available in four colors: black, silver, ice, and burgundy.

Pre-orders will open on September 12. Official sales of the new smartphones will start on September 18.

It is worth noting that Apple plans to ship over 10 million devices in the first year after the release of its highly anticipated foldable iPhone. This will help save the entire segment of foldable smartphones from decline.