Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, bringing a major camera upgrade, a new A20 Pro chip and significantly improved battery life.
The biggest change this year is the new 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture, giving iPhone users more control over how their photos look. The new Pro lineup also gets an upgraded Dynamic Island, improved thermal management and new AI-focused camera features.
The camera finally gets variable aperture
The iPhone 18 Pro introduces variable aperture to the iPhone for the first time.
The 48MP Fusion Main camera uses six laser-cut blades that can automatically adjust the aperture based on lighting and depth of field. Users can also manually choose from four aperture settings through the Camera app.
Apple says the new system is designed to improve low-light shots, capture sharper details in group photos and give creators more control over their images.
There are also new Pro controls for adjusting settings such as aperture, shutter speed and white balance, plus a histogram for checking exposure.
Apple is also tackling AI-edited photos
One of the more interesting additions is Apple Reference Image.
The feature can create a reference version of a photo using signed sensor data, allowing users to compare it with the original image and check whether changes have been made.
Apple says image metadata and upcoming SynthID support will also help users identify images that have been generated or edited with AI.
This could be particularly useful for photographers, journalists and anyone who wants to know whether an image has been altered.
A20 Pro brings more power
Both iPhone 18 Pro models are powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro chip, built using a 2nm process.
The chip comes with a 6-core CPU, a new 7-core GPU and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine. Apple says the GPU is up to 40% faster than the A19 Pro, while the chip also delivers 50% more memory bandwidth.
For gamers and heavy users, Apple is also introducing a redesigned vapour chamber with three times more surface area than the previous generation iPhone 17 Pro.
Apple claims the new thermal system can deliver up to a 40% gain in sustained performance.
Battery life gets a serious boost
Battery life is another major upgrade.
The iPhone 18 Pro offers up to 34 hours of video playback, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max goes up to 43 hours.
The iPhone 18 Pro can also reach 50% charge in around 15 minutes with wired charging, while wireless charging can reach 50% in around 30 minutes.
For the Pro Max, Apple says just five minutes of wired charging can provide around seven hours of video playback.
Dynamic Island gets an upgrade
The Dynamic Island has also been redesigned to make better use of the available space.
It can now display up to three Live Activities at the same time, while continuing to support Face ID for unlocking, payments and app authentication.
iPhone 18 Pro Malaysia price
For Malaysia, the iPhone 18 Pro starts at RM5,499, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at RM5,999.
Both models are available with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB storage options. The new lineup comes in black, silver, glacier and burgundy.
Apple says pre-orders in Malaysia will begin on 12 September, with availability starting 18 September.
iPhone 18 Pro at a glance
iPhone 18 Pro: From RM5,499
iPhone 18 Pro Max: From RM5,999
Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Colours: Black, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy
Main camera: 48MP Fusion Main with variable aperture
Chip: A20 Pro
Video playback: Up to 34 hours / 43 hours
Pre-orders: 12 September
Availability: 18 September
For the new iPhone 18 Pro generation, Apple is clearly putting its biggest focus on camera control, sustained performance and battery life, rather than simply adding another small spec upgrade.