Apple has unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, its latest flagship smartphones with a stronger focus on camera control, sustained performance, battery life and artificial intelligence.
The two models are powered by the new A20 Pro chip and run iOS 27 with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI. Apple is also introducing a redesigned Dynamic Island, a new thermal system and what it describes as its most advanced camera system yet on an iPhone.
Both models will be available in black, silver, glacier and a new burgundy finish. In Singapore, pre-orders begin on September 12, with general availability from September 18.
Variable Aperture Comes to iPhone.
The biggest camera upgrade is the new 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture, bringing physical aperture control to an iPhone for the first time.
The system uses six laser-cut blades that can move between different aperture settings, allowing the camera to adjust depth of field and the amount of light entering the lens. Apple says the camera can open as wide as ƒ/1.48 for low-light photography, while narrower settings can help keep more of a scene in focus.
Users can leave the system to adjust automatically or manually select from four aperture settings through the Camera app. Apple is also opening the feature to developers through an API, allowing third-party camera apps to make use of the variable aperture hardware.
The Main camera is paired with a new image sensor and computational imaging pipeline designed to improve detail and low-light performance. Apple has also upgraded Photographic Styles with new texture and grain controls.
For more advanced users, the Camera app gains a new Pro controls interface that provides manual adjustment of aperture, shutter speed and white balance, along with a histogram for monitoring exposure.
Video capabilities have been expanded as well. Cinematic effects can now be applied after capture to footage recorded at up to 60fps, while Time-lapse can record in 4K with Dolby Vision HDR. Audio Mix also gains improved voice processing and the ability to isolate music.
Apple Reference Image Targets Photo Authenticity
Apple is also introducing a new feature called Apple Reference Image, aimed at helping photographers and viewers establish whether an image has been altered.
When a picture is captured using Reference mode, the new Main camera sensor records signed sensor data. Private Cloud Compute then develops that data into an unalterable reference image, which can be viewed alongside the edited photograph in the Photos app.
The idea is to provide something similar to a digital negative, allowing users to visually compare the final image with what the sensor originally captured.
Apple is making APIs available across iOS, iPadOS and macOS 27 so third-party apps can display the reference images. The company says image metadata and planned support for the SynthID standard will also help users determine whether images have been generated or modified using AI.
A Smaller, More Useful Dynamic Island
The Dynamic Island has also been redesigned for the iPhone 18 Pro generation.
Apple says improvements to the display technology have allowed it to reduce the size of the Dynamic Island while increasing the amount of information it can present.
It can now display up to three Live Activities simultaneously, while continuing to house the technology required for Face ID authentication.
A20 Pro Moves to 2nm
At the heart of both phones is the new A20 Pro, manufactured using a 2-nanometre process.
The chip features a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU and a new Dual 16-core Neural Engine. Apple says memory bandwidth has increased by 50 per cent compared with the A19 Pro, while GPU performance is up to 40 per cent faster.
The Neural Engine now provides 32 total cores, which Apple says doubles AI processing capability compared with the A19 Pro. The additional performance is intended for tasks including on-device AI, computational photography and demanding games.
Apple has also fitted both phones with its N1 networking chip, supporting Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread.
Cellular connectivity is handled by the new C2 modem system, which Apple says delivers faster uploads than C1X while consuming 15 per cent less energy.
A New Vapour Chamber for Sustained Performance
Apple has redesigned the thermal system to make better use of the A20 Pro’s performance over longer periods.
The chip uses packaging inspired by Apple’s M-series processors, positioning memory beside the silicon die instead of directly in its thermal path. That allows the A20 Pro to connect directly to a new-generation vapour chamber.
Apple says the vapour chamber has three times the surface area of the system used in the iPhone 17 Pro and contributes to up to a 40 per cent increase in sustained performance compared with the previous generation.
Battery Life Takes a Major Step Forward
Battery life is another major focus of the new Pro models.
Apple rates the iPhone 18 Pro for up to 34 hours of video playback, while the larger iPhone 18 Pro Max reaches up to 43 hours, making it the longest-lasting Pro iPhone to date according to the company.
The iPhone 18 Pro can charge to 50 per cent in around 15 minutes using wired charging, while wireless charging can reach 50 per cent in around 30 minutes.
On the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple says five minutes of wired charging can provide around seven hours of video playback. Based on its updated real-world battery usage model, the Pro Max can provide up to 29 hours of general use on a full charge.
Siri AI Arrives With iOS 27
The iPhone 18 Pro models will also be among the first devices to showcase Siri AI, which is rolling out in beta with iOS 27.
Apple describes the new Siri as more conversational and capable of understanding personal context across messages, emails, photos and other apps.
Siri AI can use on-screen awareness to act on information displayed on the phone, while a new Siri mode in the Camera app can identify and provide information about objects in front of the user.
Apple Intelligence also brings additional editing tools to Photos, including Spatial Reframing, Extend and an upgraded Clean Up tool. Image Playground can now generate photorealistic images, while Safari gains a Notify Me feature that can monitor webpages for updates such as product restocks or price changes.
Apple says much of the processing takes place on-device, with Private Cloud Compute used when more powerful cloud-based models are required.
Pricing and Availability in Singapore
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB storage capacities.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at S$1,899, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at S$2,099. Apple is also offering 0 per cent interest monthly instalments for up to 24 months.
Pre-orders in Singapore begin at 5 am Pacific Time on Saturday, September 12, with availability from Friday, September 18.
iOS 27 will be released as a free software update on September 14, alongside Apple Intelligence for supported devices and languages. Siri AI will launch in beta on the same day for supported devices set to English, including English (Singapore).
Apple is also releasing a new range of accessories for the iPhone 18 Pro family. The TechWoven Case with MagSafe is priced at S$89, while the Clear Case and Silicone Case with MagSafe cost S$75 each.
The FineWoven Wallet with MagSafe costs S$89, while the new Wrist Strap is priced at S$39 and the Crossbody Strap at S$89.
Find out more at apple.com/sg.
