Apple unveils iPhone 18 Pro with variable aperture camera and A20 Pro chip

Apple announced its latest flagship smartphones, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, highlighting a redesigned camera system and a new 2-nanometer A20 Pro processor. The devices retain a familiar aluminum body but add new color options such as Deep Black, Burgundy and Light Blue.

The main camera uses a 48-megapixel sensor with a variable aperture that can shift between f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4, allowing more light intake in low-light settings and greater depth-of-field control. Apple says the aperture can admit roughly 50% more light compared with previous models. The camera suite also includes a 48-MP ultra-wide lens (f/2.2) and a 48-MP telephoto lens offering 4× and 8× optical zoom at f/2.8.

The built-in Camera app now provides manual controls for aperture, shutter speed and white balance, and Apple will update its API so third-party developers can access the variable aperture. The company also introduced new computational imaging features, enhanced Photographic Styles with texture and grain adjustments, and video capabilities such as 60-fps cinematic effects, 4K Dolby Vision time-lapse and improved low-light video performance.

A new authenticity tool, Apple Reference Image, embeds a sensor-level signature in photos to verify capture details. The iPhone 18 Pro also integrates “Apple Intelligence,” including a beta version of Siri AI and advanced visual-intelligence features in the Camera app. Photo-editing tools gain generative expand, cleanup and spatial reframing functions.

Powering the devices, the A20 Pro chip combines a six-core CPU with two high-performance “super cores,” a seven-core GPU and dual 32-core Neural Engines, delivering up to 20% faster CPU performance and 40% higher graphics throughput than the prior generation. Thermal design improvements, such as a larger vapor-chamber, aim to sustain performance during intensive tasks.

Both models retain a 6.3-inch (Pro) or 6.9-inch (Pro Max) Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion up to 120 Hz and an expanded Dynamic Island. Battery life is comparable to the previous Pro Max, with the Pro Max rated for up to 45 hours of video playback.

Pricing starts at $1,199 for the iPhone 18 Pro and $1,299 for the Pro Max, with storage options ranging from 256 GB to 2 TB. Pre-orders begin on September 12, and shipments start on September 18. Apple also offers a leasing program called Apple Upgrade, beginning at $34.99 per month for 24 months.