Apple today announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at its ‘Surprise and Shine’ event at Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino. The devices go up for pre-order on September 12 and hit shelves on September 18.
Here’s everything that was announced.
Design
The iPhone 18 Pro retains the titanium chassis and overall form factor of its predecessor, with one visible change: a frosted, semi-transparent finish around the MagSafe area on the back. The Dynamic Island has been made slightly smaller. A new Dark Cherry colourway joins the lineup, replacing the Cosmic Orange from last year.
Chip and performance
Both Pro models are powered by the A20 Pro — Apple’s first chip built on a 2-nanometer process. The chip features a 7-core GPU, up from six cores in the A19 Pro, and is paired with 12GB of RAM. Apple’s new C2 modem replaces the C1, with support for mmWave 5G and potential satellite connectivity via NR-NTN technology.
The 12GB of RAM is significant in the context of iOS 27 — it is the threshold required to run Apple’s most advanced on-device Siri AI model, which is now powered by Google Gemini.
Camera
The most notable camera update this year is a variable aperture main lens — the first time Apple has used a physically adjustable aperture on an iPhone. The aperture adjusts to shooting conditions rather than relying solely on software compensation, with implications for low-light photography, portraits, and video.
The selfie camera has been upgraded to 24MP on both Pro models.
Battery
Battery capacity sees a meaningful increase this generation. The iPhone 18 Pro is rated at approximately 4,288mAh in US models, while the Pro Max comes in at 5,567mAh — the largest battery Apple has put in a Pro Max to date. The difference in capacity between US and China models is attributed to the physical SIM tray requirement in the latter.
Software
Both devices launch with iOS 27, which introduces a rebuilt Siri powered by Google Gemini, a new Dynamic App Grid, deeper Apple Intelligence integration, and a standalone Siri app. watchOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate release dates were also confirmed at the event.
Price and availability
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are available in four finishes: black, silver, glacier, and an all-new burgundy. Pre-orders open September 12, while retail availability begins September 18.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage capacities. Available in burgundy, glacier, silver, and black, iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 (U.S.) or $49.95 (U.S.) per month, and iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299 (U.S.) or $54.12 (U.S.) per month for 24 months.1
The standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 are not part of this launch — Apple has confirmed those models for spring 2027.