Apple releases iPhone 18 Pro reviews with variable aperture camera and $100 price increase

New camera hardware and variable aperture

Reviews of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max point to the main camera as the primary technical change on the devices. Apple has integrated a variable aperture mechanism into its 48-megapixel Fusion camera, using six blades driven by an internal rotor to adjust light intake. The system provides four preset aperture stops in the native Camera app, consisting of f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, and f/4.0, while allowing third-party developers access to more granular steps across the range. The wider f/1.48 setting allows more light onto the sensor for low-light photography and produces optical background softness without relying strictly on software portrait modes. Reviewers noted that while the visual differences across the aperture range can be subtle, the physical blades help capture starburst effects around light sources and narrow the gap with competitors in low-light conditions.

Silicon upgrades and battery endurance

Under the hood, both models run on the A20 Pro processor, built on a 2-nanometer architecture. The chip powers standard iOS functions alongside Apple Intelligence features, such as Clean Up and Reframing in Photos, as well as an updated Siri assistant. To sustain higher processing loads without thermal throttling, Apple expanded the internal vapor chamber cooling system. In gaming tests running demanding titles like Control, reviewers found performance stable, though visual upscaling created some graininess at maximum settings. Battery endurance improved across both sizes, aided by denser battery cells in the Pro Max. The smaller iPhone 18 Pro retained roughly 40% battery after a full day of use, while the 18 Pro Max reached the end of two days of moderate use on a single charge.

Design adjustments and display changes

The exterior chassis retains the unibody aluminum design and Ceramic Shield glass from the previous generation, maintaining compatibility with iPhone 17 Pro cases. Display sizes remain unchanged at 6.3 inches for the iPhone 18 Pro and 6.9 inches for the iPhone 18 Pro Max using Super Retina XDR panels. Physical adjustments include a 5-gram weight increase on the Pro and a 16-gram increase on the Pro Max. The Dynamic Island cutout at the top of the screen is physically smaller because Apple relocated some Face ID components beneath the display in the upper left corner. This reduction allows the interface to display up to three concurrent Live Activities. Color choices include Burgundy, Glacier, Black, and Silver, with the rear matte glass panel now color-matched to the metal frame.

Pricing and staggered release cycle

Apple increased the starting price for both Pro models by $100 (or £100 in the UK), setting the iPhone 18 Pro at $1,199 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,299. Both variants now offer a 2TB storage configuration. The rollout represents an unusual schedule for the company, as no standard base iPhone 18 debuted alongside the Pro devices. Chief executive John Ternus introduced the phones ahead of the foldable iPhone Duo, which is scheduled to arrive in October 2026. A standard base iPhone 18 and a mid-tier iPhone 18e are not expected until spring 2027.