Apple has officially announced the iPhone 18 Pro during its 'Surprise and Shine' September event. This iteration largely retains the design of its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro, shifting the focus to significant internal hardware enhancements. Central to these upgrades is the new Apple A20 Pro processor, manufactured using 2nm technology. Apple claims this new chip delivers a 40% improvement in gaming performance over the previous generation. Additionally, the iPhone 18 Pro incorporates a second neural engine, intended to double the performance for artificial intelligence tasks.
During the event, Apple showcased the expanded AI capabilities of Siri. These advancements include features such as automated email composition, system-wide dictation, and enhanced camera integration. Users can now ask Siri questions about their surroundings, with the AI able to extract event details from flyers and add them to the user's calendar.
For thermal management, the iPhone 18 Pro features a new vapor chamber design. Battery life is expected to be comparable to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, offering approximately 36 hours of video playback, while the larger iPhone 18 Pro Max is projected to achieve up to 45 hours. Apple also highlighted a rapid charging feature, stating that five minutes of charging can provide up to six hours of video playback.
The camera system sees notable improvements, particularly with the main 48MP sensor. It now includes a physical shutter, allowing for manual aperture adjustments beyond software-based effects. This physical shutter is expected to enhance low-light photography capabilities.
Despite the internal upgrades, the iPhone 18 Pro comes with a higher price point. The base model starts at $1,199, a $100 increase from the iPhone 17 Pro's starting price of $1,099. The iPhone 18 Pro Max will begin at $1,299. Preorders for the new models are scheduled to open on September 12, with retail availability beginning September 18. This price adjustment follows a period where Apple had maintained the pricing for the iPhone 17 Pro amidst ongoing RAM supply issues.