Apple iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max made their debut alongside the company’s first foldable iPhone, marking one of Apple’s most significant hardware launches in years. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) said the Pro models will start at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively, while U.S. preorders are scheduled to begin September 12 ahead of availability on September 18.
During its latest product event, Apple introduced the A20 Pro, a chip built using 2-nanometer process technology. The processor combines a six-core CPU, including two high-performance cores and four efficiency cores, with a seven-core GPU. Apple said the chip delivers 50% more memory bandwidth and up to 40% faster graphics performance than the A19 Pro.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Adds AI and Camera Upgrades
The new Pro lineup includes dual 16-core neural engines for a total of 32 cores, targeting faster on-device artificial intelligence workloads. Apple also described a new packaging design and an improved vapor-chamber cooling system intended to provide up to 40% better sustained performance.
Camera upgrades include a 48-megapixel Fusion main camera with variable aperture, using six blades to adjust depth of field and light intake. The phones add support for ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2 and Genlock, while new authenticity tools include the Apple Reference Image standard and support for identifying AI-generated or edited images. Apple said the iPhone 18 Pro Max delivers the largest battery-life increase yet for an iPhone, with the eSIM model rated for up to 45 hours of video playback.
Apple also introduced the iPhone Duo, its first foldable handset. The device has a 5.4-inch outer display and opens to a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR screen that Apple says is 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max display. The Duo can operate partially folded, supports Apple Pencil and is described by the company as its thinnest iPhone when fully open.
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro ships with iOS 27, Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, with storage configurations ranging from 256GB to 2TB. Regional availability remains uneven: Apple’s previous software announcement said Siri AI would not initially be available on iPhone in the European Union and that the new intelligence features would remain unavailable in China while the company worked through regulatory requirements.
Other products announced at the event included AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. AirPods 5 starts at $129, while a $149 version adds extra features and wireless charging. The new watches retain starting prices of $399 and $799, with preorders opening immediately and availability set for September 18.
