Apple officially released the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. These two models have a relatively simple appearance design, but the internal structure has been significantly improved. Apple has successfully reduced the size of the “Dynamic Island” area at the top of the screen, which has been an iconic design feature of the iPhone Pro since 2022, and can now display up to three live activities simultaneously. This improvement has been rumored before and is now confirmed, becoming one of the most significant visual changes at the launch. The new generation iPhone 18 Pro.
The Pro series retains the 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screen sizes and introduces a new burgundy finish. In addition to the three colors of black, silver and glacier white, the real highlight is its internal configuration: the A20 Pro chip manufactured using a 2nm process, Apple’s self-developed C2 modem and an improved cooling system, which significantly improve the phone’s sustained performance. In addition, the iPhone is also equipped with a variable aperture main camera for the first time.
A more compact dynamic island with triple functionality
iPhone 18 Pro’s Dynamic Island uses new display technology to reduce the size of the front camera. According to the iOS 27 code, this shrinking is to allow the system to manage three real-time activities simultaneously, something that has not been possible on any previous iPhone. In actual use, this means that users can view information such as timers, music playback, and navigation routes at the same time without overlapping content.
Analyst Mark Gurman had previously predicted the feature, and a video leaked by user pdfu also showed the feature in action in the iOS 27 simulator. In order to achieve this feature, Apple had to reduce the size of the front sensor by about 20%, from 20.76 mm in the iPhone 17 Pro to less than 16.57 mm. The Face ID function is still retained, so there is no loss of functionality.
Additionally, the company has confirmed that the new model will be available in four color options: black, silver, glacier white, and a new burgundy red. At the same time, new protective cases made of silicone and TechWoven, wallets made of FineWoven, and crossbody straps have also been launched to facilitate user customization.
A20 Pro chip: more powerful performance, higher energy efficiency and better heat dissipation
At the heart of the new iPhone is the A20 Pro chip, which is manufactured using a 2nm process. It integrates a six-core CPU (with neural network accelerator), a seven-core GPU (which Apple claims is 40% faster than the A19 Pro), and dual 16-core neural network engines. A total of 32 cores dedicated to artificial intelligence give it twice the processing power of the previous generation.
But the changes aren’t just about chips. Apple places the processor and memory side by side, keeping the memory away from the heat dissipation path. This layout allows for better connectivity. A20 Pro is directly equipped with a vapor chamber. The surface area of the new generation display is three times that of iPhone 17 Pro. According to the company, sustained performance improvements of up to 40% are critical for demanding gaming, video editing, and computational photography.
In terms of connectivity, iPhone 18 Pro is equipped with Apple’s C2 modem, which has faster upload speeds and 15% lower power consumption than C1X. It is also equipped with N1 wireless chip and is compatible with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread. However, mmWave compatibility for C2 modems is currently limited to the US market.
Main camera features variable aperture and other photography innovations
This 48-megapixel Fusion main camera uses a variable aperture system for the first time, which is composed of six laser-cut blades. This mechanism can smoothly adjust the amount of light entering the camera and adjust the depth of field according to different scenes. Users can manually select four aperture settings through the camera app, and also have access to professional controls such as shutter speed, white balance, and a histogram for checking exposure.
On the video side, Apple allows users to apply movie effects after recording video at up to 60 frames per second. The time-lapse mode can record 4K video with Dolby Vision HDR support, while the audio mixing function improves vocal playback by separating vocals from music. Additionally, Apple has introduced a reference image feature, a system that generates an unchangeable reference image based on the sensor’s signature data. While EU users can view these images, capturing them is not initially supported.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro Max could push this technology to new heights. According to some leaked information, the Max model will feature a variable aperture camera. This is an exclusive feature and is not available on the standard Pro model. Apple hasn’t confirmed this yet, though, and we’ll have to wait for full specs.
The cruising range reaches a record high and the fast charging speed is significantly improved.
Battery life is another big selling point of this generation. Apple redesigned the battery, and thanks to the efficient performance of the A20 Pro chip, the iPhone 18 Pro (supports eSIM cards only) can have up to 36 hours of video playback, and the Pro Max can last up to 45 hours. However, these data refer to models without a physical SIM card slot. These models are not sold in Spain, so Spanish users should refer to the battery life data of models equipped with a physical SIM card slot.
In terms of charging, the iPhone 18 Pro can be charged to 50% in about 15 minutes via wired charging, and 30 minutes for wireless charging. The Pro Max provides approximately 7 hours of video playback with just 5 minutes of wired charging. These data are significantly improved compared to the previous generation product.
The new iPhone will be available in four storage capacity options: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB. Pre-orders will begin on September 12th, with official release expected on September 18th. In Spain, the iPhone 18 Pro starts at 1.469 euros and the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at 1.619 euros.
In short, iPhone 18 Pro is a solid upgrade from its predecessor, with significant improvements in performance, battery life, and camera, with a smaller but more powerful dynamic island. While the exterior design hasn’t changed drastically, it’s the interior improvements that are key. For users who are upgrading from the previous generation, the upgrade is highly recommended; for those who already own an iPhone 17 Pro, the upgrade may not be necessary, but it will definitely not let you down.
