Phones

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: what is new, what it costs and who should upgrade

Apple's 2026 Pro iPhones bring a 2-nanometre chip, a main camera with an aperture you can change and a smaller Dynamic Island. Here is what changed, in plain language.

By the How To, Simply team · 1 October 2026 · 3 min read

Announced

9 September 2026

In shops since

18 September 2026

Price (US)

From $1,199 (Pro) and $1,299 (Pro Max)

Storage

256 GB up to 2 TB

Chip

A20 Pro

Colours

Black, glacier, silver, burgundy

Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max on 9 September 2026, next to its first folding phone, the iPhone Duo. There was no standard iPhone 18 at the event. This article sums up what Apple announced. It is based on Apple's own information and on reporting from the launch, not on our own testing.

The five changes that matter

1. A camera aperture you can change

The 48-megapixel main camera on both models has a variable aperture. The aperture is the opening that lets light into the lens. A wide opening lets in more light and blurs the background; a narrow one keeps more of the scene sharp. Until now every iPhone had a fixed opening and created blur with software. On the iPhone 18 Pro it ranges from ƒ/1.48 to ƒ/4.0. Apple also added manual aperture and shutter speed controls in the Camera app, and says night mode photos are taken faster.

The other two rear cameras are also 48 megapixels: an ultra-wide and a 4x telephoto, with optical-quality zoom up to 8x.

2. The A20 Pro chip

The A20 Pro is Apple's first phone chip built on a 2-nanometre process. Smaller transistors do the same work with less power. Apple quotes graphics that are 40% faster than the previous Pro chip, and a new vapour chamber to move heat away so the phone keeps its speed during long games or video recording. For everyday use, the practical effect of a new chip is usually battery life and how many years the phone stays fast.

3. Longer battery life and faster charging

Apple's technical specifications list up to 34 hours of video playback for the iPhone 18 Pro and up to 43 hours for the Pro Max. Wired charging is faster too: about 50% in 15 minutes with a 60-watt charger, by Apple's figures. These are the maker's figures, measured with video playback. Real use with mobile data, a bright screen and the camera is always shorter.

4. A smaller Dynamic Island

The black cut-out at the top of the screen is smaller, and it can now show up to three Live Activities at once, such as a timer, a taxi and a sports score.

5. A 2 TB option, and a higher price for the Pro Max

For the first time you can buy an iPhone with 2 TB of storage, aimed at people who film a lot of high-quality video. In the United States the iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 and the Pro Max at $1,299, which is $100 more than last year's Pro Max. Apple also raised the US prices of several older models that stay on sale by $100, according to launch reports. Prices in other countries differ, so check Apple's site for yours.

What did not change

If you own an iPhone 17 Pro, the list of differences that matter day to day is short: the aperture, the chip and the battery.

Who should upgrade

• From an iPhone 17 Pro or 16 Pro: there is little reason, unless you take a lot of photos and want real control over background blur.
• From an iPhone 14 Pro or older: the gains add up. You get several years of camera, battery and chip progress in one step, plus Apple Intelligence features, which need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer.
• If you mainly message, browse and take casual photos: a cheaper iPhone does the same job. iOS 27 runs on phones back to the iPhone 11, so a software update may be all you need this year.

Before you buy

Check how much storage you use now under Settings, General, About. Our guide shows where to look: how to check your iOS version and free storage. Most people who use 60 GB today do not need more than 256 GB.